Menzi Magubane
Tensions are rising between the Premier Soccer League (PSL) and Cape Town City who are threatening to delay the end of the current DStv Premiership season that is scheduled for 21 May.
The Citizens have apparently refused to honour a Kaizer Chiefs replay match which was ordered by SA Football Association arbitration advocate Nazeer Cassim SC in March.
The PSL has since taken the arbitration matter to the Gauteng High Court.
In a leaked document, the PSL said the matter will be heard on 10 May and further said it has been agreed that no party will seek to interdict the finalisation of the 2022 professional football season regardless of the outcome handed down by the high court.
“If the league is successful in the review application, the log will be readjusted to reflect the outcome as if the matches had not been played,” said the document.
It further said if Chiefs is successful in the review application, then the log will reflect the outcome of the replayed matches.
“Kaizer Chiefs accepts that even if the review application is heard after the matches are replayed the matter will not be moot.”
City, however, have responded angrily stating clearly that they are not in agreement with what the PSL said in the document.
“Regrettably it has been brought to our attention that Circular No.16 of the National Soccer League has become a public document which leaves us no alternative but to declare that we distance ourselves from its content,” read City’s statement.
“The insinuations that we are party to or part of this decision is untrue. We categorically do not agree to this process and have responded in writing to the league and the parties on two occasions now, reserving our rights as a club to defend our position in this matter.”
Cassim favoured Chiefs after they couldn’t honour two fixtures against City and Golden Arrows in December due to a Covid-19 outbreak at Naturena with more than 50 people testing positive for the virus.
The advocate ordered that Amakhosi should replay those matches but the PSL were against that ruling and took it to the High Court.
Image source: @IOL
