Mamelodi Sundowns and captain Themba Zwane have been fined by the Premier Soccer League (PSL) Disciplinary Committee over the incident of delaying the kick-off in the MTN8.
Sundowns beat 10-man Moroka Swallows 1-0 in the MTN8 quarter-final when Zwane was booked for ‘time wasting’ after stepping out of the centre circle to greet the club’s fans despite the referee having blown his whistle to start the game.
PSL prosecutor Zola Majavu has confirmed on Thursday that Sundowns and Zwane pleaded guilty and were fined an overall amount of R70,000 but half of it is suspended.
“Earlier this morning Mr. Themba Zwane of Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club as well as his employer Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club appeared before the PSL DC to answer to charges of misconduct,” Majavu stated.
“Having been duly charged by myself as a prosecutor arising from an incident in the MTM Cup competition game in which Mr. Zwane and some of his fellow players delayed the kick-off of the match by approximately three minutes.
“This is in instances where the referee having signaled to the start of the match, he in particular went out of the centre-circle and joined his colleagues to celebrate or grip the fans.
“That type of conduct is definitely a violation of the league’s prescripts, hence it constitutes misconduct. Having been duly charged, they appeared before the DC this morning, at which point they both pleaded guilty as charged.
“The league’s DC accepted the guilty plea, and having listened to the address in aggravation by myself as a prosecutor and also an address in mitigation by the legal representative of the respondents, in our absence, the PSL DC then deliberated over the matter and returned with the following ruling:
“One with regard to Mr. Zwane, he was fined a monetary amount of R20,000, half of which is suspended for a period of 12 months on condition that during the period of suspension, he’s not found guilty of the same offence again. The PSL DC had also taken note that Mr. Zwane was already cautioned by the referee in question.
“With regard to his employer Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club they were fined a monetary fine of R50,000, half of which he suspended on the same terms. Effectively between Mr. Zwane and Mamelodi Sundowns they have to pay a cumulative amount of R35,000.
“They were further directed to carry the cost of the sittings, which costs are usually administratively computed by the league and then added on to the invoice in relation to their respective fines.
“Lastly, they were further directed to send a written apology to the league as well as the sponsors and such an apology must be carried in the Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club’s website and the league would upon receipt of a written apology, do the same.”
