Menzi Magubane
The start of the DStv Premiership 2021/22 campaign is at risk following the postponement of the promotion and relegation play-offs.
These games were scheduled to start on Tuesday and Monday respectively. GladAfrica Championship outfit Royal AM filed for an urgent interdict to stop them from happening.
The Gauteng Supreme Court ruled in favour of Royal AM. The Durban-based club felt that the play-offs should not continue while they were lodging an appeal against a high court ruling that declared Sekhukhune United as winners of the GladAfrica Championship on Saturday.
The ruling was announced on Monday night, just less than 24 hours before Royal AM took to the field to play Richards Bay FC in the first match of the play-offs. This ruling also means the start of the new DStv Premiership season could be delayed.
On Tuesday afternoon, Premier Soccer League issued a statement which read: “The Executive Committee of the PSL today resolved to urgently seek leave to appeal against the order handed down by the Honourable Mr Acting Judge Nyathi of the Gauteng High Court on the evening of Monday 14 June 2021.
“Acting Judge Nyathi interdicted the end of season promotion/relegation play-offs that were due to commence at 15h00 on 15 June 2021. The PSL has been compelled to seek urgent relief as the last day of the official season is the 30th of June 2021. Many player contracts terminate on that date and any further delay in completing the play-offs places the start of the 2021/22 season at risk.”
On Saturday, the High Court ruled in favour of Sekhukhune and declared them winners of the 2020/21 Championship, which saw them getting an automatic promotion to the Premiership.
But Shauwn Mkhize, co-owner of Royal AM, filed an appeal at the Supreme Court and later filed an urgent interdict against the playoffs.
Image source: @RoyalAM
