Staff Reporter.
@GalloImages.
The PSL has responded to calls to ban Bloemfontein Celtic following the ongoing legal drama with former goalkeeper Patrick Tignyemb.
This after the Cameroon goalkeeper’s lawyers lobbied that Celtic be banned from competing in the 2021/22 season due to their continued failure to pay the R3 million owed.
Celtic already received a transfer ban from FIFA, following a contractual dispute involving Tignyemb.
The news of the ban comes after Celtic was found guilty last year by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for the unfairly dismissal of the Cameroonian goalkeeper and allegedly not compensating him.
Celtic are already serving a two-window transfer ban – as ordered by FIFA – after Tignyemb appealed his unfair dismissal case with the world governing body.
After being alerted to this matter via a letter written by Johnny Precious Ogbah, head of sports law (Africa) at the Activity Chambers, whose contents were partly published on this website, Michael Murphy – the league’s legal counsel has responded.
“Please can I ask for confirmation regarding the factual position set out in the letter from Mr Precious. In other words – is it correct that the sum of the set out (R3m) has not been paid? If it has been paid, can you please send proof of that. If not, what has been paid, and when?
“I will need to refer the matter to the appropriate persons at the League to deal with but I need to understand precisely what the position is before doing so,” reads a response from Murphy copied to Celtic boss Max Tshabalala among others.
Citing CAF Club Licensing Regulations, Tignyemb’s lawyers are now pushing for Celtic to be withdrawn from the league as they have violated the regulations.
FIFA made the decision in Tignyemb’s favour in October last year.
Meanwhile the Premier Soccer League have confirmed that the transfer window in South Africa will close at midnight on August 31.
It is a return to the normal window for South African football, which has traditionally been open for July and August, and then again in January for a mid-season chance for clubs to bolster their squads.
A change in the season due to the Covid-19 pandemic forced a change last term, when the window was open as late as November.
It means clubs have another almost four weeks to improve their squads, though with the respective DStv Premiership and GladAfrica Championship seasons to get under way on the weekend of August 20-22, many have already done the bulk of their business.
With inputs from KickOff Magazine.