Staff Reporter.
The disciplinary committee (DC) hearing into Royal AM’s no-shows to their Premier Soccer League promotion-relegation playoffs matches has been postponed again.
The DC has been postponed by a week for a second time‚ to the coming Saturday.
It is understood that Royal’s legal representatives brought two applications for a postponement – one of which‚ that the Durban club’s owner‚ Shauwn Mkhize‚ had taken sick and was bed-ridden‚ and could not attend the virtual hearing‚ was granted.
AM’s other application‚ that the DC be postponed until the entire process of their legal case to be reinstated as GladAfrica Championship (National First Division‚ or NFD) champions at the Supreme Court of Appeal‚ or further‚ be completed was not granted. This process‚ with further applications possible to the Constitutional Court‚ could take months to be completed.
On Monday‚ judgement will be delivered by Judge Leonie Windell in a South Gauteng High Court action brought by Royal asking for PSL acting CEO Mato Madlala and the league to be held in contempt of court for the playoffs matches proceeding. It is understood the matter of reinstating an earlier interdict by Judge Nyathi against the playoffs could also be part of that judgement.
The DC hearing is the latest event in the long saga involving Royal‚ the GladAfrica’s final standings and the PSL’s promotion-relegation playoffs.
An arbitration result before the final game of the NFD had awarded three points to Sekhukhune United regarding a game in February where Polokwane City did not field the required five under-23 players.
After the final round of results‚ this made Sekhukhune champions and up for automatic promotion to the PSL‚ and bumped Royal down to the playoffs.
Meanwhile Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa said his department will only get involved in the saga as the last resort.
“The minister’s attitude is to allow sport administrators space to resolve sport problems on their own and only get involved as a last resort. With that said‚ he is in touch with the PSL leadership‚ “said a statement from the Sports Ministry on behalf of the Minister.
“The minister remains confident that as people on the ground‚ the relevant football authorities are not only aware of such situations but are also capable of addressing them.”
The minister continued to say that he is concerned that sport disputes are flooding court rol “It is obviously undesirable for sport disputes to flood the already full court rolls but as a democratic country‚ we subscribe to every individuals rights to use all available avenues to protect their interests‚”continued the statement on behalf of the Minister.
The department also dismissed suggestions that domestic professional sportsmen and women should be prioritised for vaccinations.