The Premier Soccer League Disciplinary Committee have sanctioned Kaizer Chiefs after a second incident of crowd violence this season.
Amakhosi have been slapped with a R200,000 fine with R50,000 suspended over a period of six months on condition of not being found guilty of the same offence.
The behaviour at the Peter Mokaba Stadium was a second offence after the earlier events that transpired at Mbombela Stadium.
Chiefs Marketing and Commerical Director Jessica Motaung condemned the actions and called for more unity and patience amongst the fan base over the frustrating events – with the club being fined previously and directly addressing fans to avoid a repeat.
However, the PSL DC has now handed down their verdict via advocate Zola Majavu on Monday afternoon.
“I can confirm that earlier today, Kaizer Chiefs FC appeared before the PSL DC to answer to two separate counts of spectator misbehaviour. This is as a result of missile probing incidents that took place on the 20th and 23rd of September, PSL and MTN fixtures respectively,” Majavu said in his statement.
“They pleaded guilty as charged, and having been so convicted, and upon listening to the submissions from the prosecutor and their representatives, both in mitigation and aggravation of sanction, the PSL DC issued the following ruling with regard to sanction one.
“You would also remember that a few weeks ago, Kaizer Chiefs Football Club was found guilty of the same offence and they were issued a monetary fine of R100,000, of which R70k was to be payable effectively, and R30,000 suspended on condition that during the next 12 months, they are not to be found guilty of the same offence again.
“Sadly, a few weeks later, they find themselves convicted again on exact same offence, which means that the suspended R30,000 now comes into operation immediately.
“In respect of the new contraventions, which for purposes of sanction were taken as one they were issued a monetary fine of 200,000 Rands, of which 50,000 is suspended for a period of six months on condition that during the period of suspension are not found guilty of the same offence again, the effective payable amount in respect of the new contraventions is thus 150,000 Rands.
“So in total, it will be 180,000 Rands plus the cost of today’s seating, which is usually administratively computed by the league and then added to the bill of the fine itself.
“Over and above that, and as a mark of the PSL DC’s displeasure, the errant behaviour of these few fans, they were further ordered with an automatic spectator ban at the next match.
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“In the event, they were to be found guilty of the same offence during the next six months. This is what is traditionally referred to as a lockout, and it is contemplated in the rules of the league.
“Sadly, and unfortunately, the import of it is that it will affect other innocent spectators or fans of the club they are scheduled to play next. Unfortunately, for practical considerations, it would simply mean that a particular fixture will be played without fans on both sides of the team’s fixture against each other.
“That will only happen if they are found guilty again within the next six months, and having been so convicted by the PSL etc. This is indeed a serious warning shot issued by the league through its judicial body, and it is perfectly contemplated in the rules of the league.
“The chair of the DC made a specific call that all the clubs should heed this warning and do all things necessary to convey the message through whatever channels to the fans that this type of behaviour would not be countenanced.
“There is also recognition that fining the clubs alone and in and of itself will not necessarily deal with this unacceptable conduct. Hence, the automatic lockout in the event of a future contravention.”
