PSL prosecutor Zola Majavu has given an update on the matter involving Cape Town Stars, which has seen four players and a technical staff member found guilty of unsporting behaviour.
After being charged, the club and five All Stars members appeared in front of the DC on Wednesday, and while they pleaded not guilty, the DC returned a guilty verdict.
This means the club has been fined R100,000, while the four players and goalkeeper coach were fined R20,000 and suspended for two games. However 50% of their punishment is suspended as long as they are not found guilty of a similar offence in the next 24 months.
“This is a further DC update,” Majavu said in his release.
“I can confirm that earlier today Cape Town All Stars Football Club, together with its goalkeeper coach and four other players appeared before the DC to answer to charges of unsporting behaviour.
“This emanated from their remonstrating with the match official in a match between themselves and Swallows FC and inter alia accusing the match officials of having been bribed, thus attributing the loss of that particular game to those bribery allegations, which are obviously unfounded. They stood charged as a result of that particular misconduct.
“Before the PSL DC this morning, they pleaded not guilty. And having led the evidence of the referee in question, the DC then returned a guilty verdict on all counts.
“With regard to sanction, and having listened to the submissions from the league via the prosecutor as well as their legal representatives, the PSL DC ruled as follows:
“In respect of the first respondent, which is the club, they were fined a monetary fine of R100,000, 50% of which is suspended for a period of 24 months on condition that during the period of suspension, they are not to be found guilty of the same offence again. With regards to the goalkeeper coach as well as the four other players, they were issued with a two-match suspension.
“However, one suspension in respect of one match is itself further suspended for a period of 24 months on condition that during the period of suspension, they are not found guilty of the similar offence, in which case, they would then have to face the sanction in respect of that new transgression, and the suspended sanction would become effective immediately.
“They were further ordered to pay a monetary fine of 20,000 Rands, half of which is suspended for a further period of 24 months on similar conditions. In effect, it means the club will have to pay 50,000 Rands, and each of the other respondents 10,000 Rand each, plus the cost of the seating, which are administratively computed and will be on forwarded to the respondents for them to settle in a manner that they deem appropriate.
“I can also confirm that as matters currently stand, there are no pending cases on my desk or enroute from the football department to my desk, which could potentially affect the closure of the season underway.”
Despite winning in their final game, All Stars missed out in the promotion playoffs, and are expected to ply their trade in the second tier again next season.
