Posted in News on Aug 25, 2005.
Chiefs will play their home match against Black Leopards (moved from September 7 to September 28), Mamelodi Sundowns (September 18) in an empty stadium with the third match ban being suspended. Amakhosi were further ordered to pay R145 000 fine.
The league champions faced four charges of bringing the league into disrepute, spectator misbehaviour, damage to property and violent conduct by their supporters and pleaded guilty as charged.
"The disciplinary committee ruled that Chiefs should play their next three home matches under lockout, starting on September 1, in respect of the third match being suspended," said PSL prosecutor Zola Majavu.
"As they also had a R45 000 fine suspended for 12 months from a previous sentence (last November) on a similar charge, it was reinstated and they were fined a further R100 000 for this offence.
”The total R145 000 is payable with immediate effect. All charges were taken as one for the purposes of sentencing and they were not sentenced individually for each offence.”
Majavu said he commended Chiefs for the “spirit and the manner in which the matter was resolved” especially taking into account that the incidents took place on Saturday. “They pleaded guilty from the onset and it was easy to just apply the rules. The fact that they are a big club played no role,” he said.
While Amakhosi pleaded guilty, this did not rule out a possible appeal. Majavu said the club had a right to appeal if they felt the sentence was too harsh.
Meanwhile, Celtic coach Paul Dolezar will appear before the league’s DC on Thursday on charge of inciting supporters in the match against Chiefs. Then next Wednesday it will be Dynamos and Celtic appearing before the tribunal. “Remember in their respective games, spectators charged into the field and attempted to assault the referee,” Majavu said.
