With just six games left in the ABC Motsepe League, the provincial SA Football Association is cracking the whip on teams not abiding by its rules and regulations.
Last week, Mthatha City were expelled from the third-tier league after the club’s management failed to appear before the Safa disciplinary committee to answer why they failed to pitch for three matches they were scheduled to play.
“Safa has rules and regulations nationwide, and they guide us administrators and teams. Mthatha City were also provided with these rules and regulations when the season began.
“In terms of rule 28.5 in the Safa statutes, which states that if a club does not pitch for three games they can be expelled,” said Safa provincial secretary Isaac Klaas.
According to the rules, a team conceding three walkovers in a league comprising 10 or more teams, or a team conceding two walkovers in a league with a stream of eight to nine teams in a season, will have its participation terminated from Safa, subject to the prescribed disciplinary procedures and a recommendation to that effect to the Safa competitions committee.
“We send a club a letter that informs them about their no-show and when they miss a second game we also send a note. But if they do it again a third time, that’s when they’re summoned to the disciplinary hearing to state their case.”
He said expelling a team was not an easy process, because clubs might have valid reasons that prevented them honouring their games.
“We can help clubs that are struggling because we start the league with 16 teams and we have to finish it with less teams. For instance City were supposed to have played against Swartkops Valley United Brothers in December, they never went to play.
“They had another game in Mthatha against Matta Milan and the third time they were supposed to play Lion City in PE and they also didn’t show up. They were then charged according to the rules, and it was unfortunate they failed to even attend the DC hearing which decided to expel the club.”
Klaas said a decision to show City the door was best for all parties involved because the club had shown no interest in the league by failing to attend their hearing.
“As we talk, their seven-day appeal period has already passed so they are now really out of the league.
“Hence we’ve even deducted their points from the log and we now have 15 teams on the table.
“They are like a team that did not exist in this league now.”
Another club that’s on Safa’s radar is none other than East London’s FC Buffalo as they have also failed to honour fixtures.
According to Klaas, FC Buffalo are one walkover away from suffering a similar fate as City after failing to honour fixtures against PE Stars and Swartkops.
Klaas said although the report submitted by FC Buffalo stated they entered the field of play, but the match did not go ahead.
“We are waiting for the match official’s report, but I told the club we’ll discuss everything in the disciplinary committee.”
Klaas said they wouldn’t allow any team to bring the league into disrepute.
“We are left with six matches and a lot can happen in that time, if there’s a lack of disciplinary we are willing to finish this league with 12 or 13 teams if needs be.”
Former City coach, Thembelani Mtwa has to date left the club and didn’t want to comment on the matter. “It came as a surprise to me because I was happy to be part of such a club,” was all he said.
City pay the price for failing to pitch for games
Last week, Mthatha City were expelled from the third-tier league after the club’s management failed to appear before the Safa disciplinary committee to answer why they failed to pitch for three matches they were scheduled to play.
“Safa has rules and regulations nationwide, and they guide us administrators and teams. Mthatha City were also provided with these rules and regulations when the season began.
“In terms of rule 28.5 in the Safa statutes, which states that if a club does not pitch for three games they can be expelled,” said Safa provincial secretary Isaac Klaas.
According to the rules, a team conceding three walkovers in a league comprising 10 or more teams, or a team conceding two walkovers in a league with a stream of eight to nine teams in a season, will have its participation terminated from Safa, subject to the prescribed disciplinary procedures and a recommendation to that effect to the Safa competitions committee.
“We send a club a letter that informs them about their no-show and when they miss a second game we also send a note. But if they do it again a third time, that’s when they’re summoned to the disciplinary hearing to state their case.”
He said expelling a team was not an easy process, because clubs might have valid reasons that prevented them honouring their games.
“We can help clubs that are struggling because we start the league with 16 teams and we have to finish it with less teams. For instance City were supposed to have played against Swartkops Valley United Brothers in December, they never went to play.
“They had another game in Mthatha against Matta Milan and the third time they were supposed to play Lion City in PE and they also didn’t show up. They were then charged according to the rules, and it was unfortunate they failed to even attend the DC hearing which decided to expel the club.”
Klaas said a decision to show City the door was best for all parties involved because the club had shown no interest in the league by failing to attend their hearing.
“As we talk, their seven-day appeal period has already passed so they are now really out of the league.
“Hence we’ve even deducted their points from the log and we now have 15 teams on the table.
“They are like a team that did not exist in this league now.”
Another club that’s on Safa’s radar is none other than East London’s FC Buffalo as they have also failed to honour fixtures.
According to Klaas, FC Buffalo are one walkover away from suffering a similar fate as City after failing to honour fixtures against PE Stars and Swartkops.
Klaas said although the report submitted by FC Buffalo stated they entered the field of play, but the match did not go ahead.
“We are waiting for the match official’s report, but I told the club we’ll discuss everything in the disciplinary committee.”
Klaas said they wouldn’t allow any team to bring the league into disrepute.
“We are left with six matches and a lot can happen in that time, if there’s a lack of disciplinary we are willing to finish this league with 12 or 13 teams if needs be.”
Former City coach, Thembelani Mtwa has to date left the club and didn’t want to comment on the matter. “It came as a surprise to me because I was happy to be part of such a club,” was all he said.
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