Cape Town City could be about to get a major lifeline after winning the first round of their case over player ineligibility against Marumo Gallants.
City were relegated from the PSL after finishing 15th and losing the promotion-relegation playoff to Orbit College but appear not ready to go down without a fight.
After some failed attempts to buy status and remain in the top flight, the Citizens’ next frontier is in the courts and things are looking up for them.
City filed a case against Gallants for fielding Monde Mpambaniso, who was allegedly not properly registered, and on Monday, a ruling from Nazeer Cassim Senior Council went in their favour after it was found that the player was improperly registered when his club acquired the PSL status of now-defunct Moroka Swallows ahead of the 2024-25 season.
Ruling found Gallants culpable
“The distinguishing feature of this complaint apropos the other two complaints is the lack of a clearance certificate in respect of the player, Monde Mphambaniso (“MM”),” the ruling reads in part as quoted by iDiski Times.
“There is no dispute that there was no clearance certificate issued in respect of MM from the club for whom MM played in the 2023/2024 football season.
“City’s complaint is that Gallants is guilty of a violation of rule 31.8.9.3 of the League’s Handbook which requires a clearance certificate to be submitted to the League in the case of a player previously registered as a professional with a member club.”
What next for Gallants and City?
It was therefore ruled that no clearance certificate was issued to the league and that the club (Gallants) must be fined R100,000 for each game the player was fielded in and forfeit the match while the player may also be sanctioned.
Mphambaniso reportedly played 20 matches which could cost Gallants 28 points and if they are docked, they could remain with just four points and in 15th position, just above the suspended Royal AM, while Cape Town would move up to 14th place with their 27 points.
The matter will now move to the Disciplinary Committee which could impose the fines but it remains to be seen how Gallants would react given they would be left in the playoff spot when the games were already played and decided.
