By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Premier Soccer League (PSL) Disciplinary Committee has fined Kaizer Chiefs for the chaos caused by their fans at the Danie Craven Stadium.
The incident unfolded during an MTN8 quarter-final between Chiefs and Stellenbosch FC on Sunday, 28 August.
With the match sold-out, ticketless fans jumped fencing and turnstiles to force their way in. They also broke down barriers to gain access into the main grandstand.
The PSL revealed that Chiefs pleaded guilty for the commotion caused by their supporters, and they have since been fined R200 000, with half of the amount being suspended for 24 months on condition that they are not be found guilty of the same offence.
“I can confirm that this evening (Thursday) Kaizer Chiefs Football Club appeared before the DC to answer to two counts of pitch invasion by the spectators as well as one count of the delayed restarting of the match after the pitch invasion,” said the PSL prosecutor Zola Majavu.
“They pleaded guilty as charged and having listened to extensive submissions of both the prosecutor and their legal representative, the PSL DC sanctioned Kaizer Chiefs as follows. A monetary fine of R200 000 of which half is suspended for a period of 24 months on condition that during the period of suspension they are not found guilty of the same offence.”
Furthermore, Majavu stated that the Glamour Boys have been ordered to pay the costs of the outer perimeter fence, while the League will pay the cost of the seating and both the league and Chiefs will have to arrange a press conference regarding the issue.
“The League was directed to carry the costs of the seating, as opposed of Chiefs. This was based on the understanding that the league as the event organiser ought to have arranged the security differently. Chiefs was ordered the costs of the inner perimeter fence, if any, which was breached by Kaizer Chiefs supporters.”
“The League was also ordered to pay the costs of the outer perimeter fence, if any, which was damaged as a result of the invasion and due to what the DC characterised as inaccurate security arrangements,” Majavu continued.
Chiefs will be eager to return to winning ways in the Premiership against Marumo Gallants on Sunday following their draw with AmaZulu.
Chiefs have had a lukewarm start to the season, having won two matches, drawn two and lost three under the guidance of new coach Arthur Zwane.
Meanwhile Marumo Gallants have denied allegations that they were offered R4m incentive by Chiefs in exchange for moving a match from Peter Mokaba Stadium in Limpopo to the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in North West during court proceedings yesterday.
This came out during a hearing on an urgent application made by the Polokwane municipality to interdict a match between Kaizer Chiefs and Marumo Gallants scheduled for Sunday.
The municipality claimed that Gallants had demanded R10m payment to match what had been offered to them allegedly by Chiefs in exchange for taking the match back to Peter Mokaba.