Pirates guilty in Orlando Stadium manhandling of Galaxy chair Sukazi

Orlando Pirates have been found guilty of denying TS Galaxy president Tim Sukazi access to the Orlando Stadium field and changerooms during their DStv Premiership match in December.

Sukazi was manhandled by security officials and not allowed on to the playing field. Pirates won the match 2-0.

After almost five months of waiting, Premier Soccer League (PSL) prosecutor Zola Majavu confirmed that a disciplinary committee hearing found the Soweto giants guilty of bringing different stakeholders into disrepute.

“The PSL disciplinary committee has just returned a guilty verdict against Orlando Pirates. This is a result of Pirates being found to have unreasonably denied Mr Tim Sukazi access to Orlando Stadium when he was entitled to do so,” Majavu said on Tuesday.

“In the result, Orlando Pirates was found to have brought the league, the game, Safa [the SA Football Association], Caf [the Confederation of African Football], Fifa and the sponsors into disrepute.

“Having been so convicted, the next stage is for both parties to address the committee with regards to appropriate sanctions.”

Majavu said the sanction will be announced at the beginning of May after the two teams have submitted their arguments on an appropriate sentence.

“The matter will be argued on May 3 at 3pm with regards to what each party contends should be the appropriate sanction, whereafter the DC will make its final decision on sanction,” Majavu said.