Kaizer Chiefs have been fined yet again after the PSL Disciplinary Committee handed them a R150,000 fine for their supporter’s poor behaviour early this month.
Chiefs were left staring at another fine in one month after their fans threw objects on the pitch while some made their way to the turf in an attempt to attack the referee during their Carling Knockout quarter-final against Mamelodi Sundowns in which they lost 4-0 at the FBN Stadium on November 2.
The ugly incident saw Chiefs apologise to fans and their sponsors and after the admission of guilt, it was clear that another fine was in the offing.
“I can confirm that earlier today, Kaizer Chiefs Football Club appeared before the PSL DC to answer to charges of spectator misbehaviour on account of incidents of missile throwing in their match against Mamelodi Sundowns,” said PSL prosecutor Zola Majavu.
Chiefs fined for second time this season
“The respondent, which is Kaizer Chiefs, pleaded guilty as charged and having listened to submissions with regard to the appropriate sanction, the PSL DC ruled as follows:
“Firstly, that Kaizer Chiefs is fined a monetary amount of R200,000 of which have been suspended for the next 12 months, on condition that during the period of suspension they are not found guilty of the same offence again.
“You will also note that three weeks or so ago, Kaizer Chiefs appeared before the PSL DC on exactly the same charges. They will be fined a monetary amount of R100,000 of which R50,000 was suspended.
“Within the period of suspension, Kaizer Chiefs has reoffended again by operation of law. It means that that R50,000 that was earlier suspended is now effective. It will be added on to the R100,000 which is half of the R200,000 which was imposed for this current infringement.
PSL worried over continuous hooliganism
“In total, it means Kaizer Chiefs will pay R150,000, plus the cost of the sitting, which are administratively computed by the league and added on to the R150,000.”
However, the disciplinary committee expressed frustration at the continuous fines, asking clubs to find better ways of rooting out hooliganism.
“The DC also observed that fining clubs week in, week out is not, in and of itself, going to be an answer to deal with this growing acts of hooliganism which have an adverse impact on the league, its stakeholders as well as the sponsors,” he added.
“However, in accordance with the rules of the league and the relevant statutes, all member clubs have agreed that they would take responsibility vicariously for the actions and omissions of their spectators, fans, supporters and or officials.
Will the poor behaviour end any time soon?
“And unfortunately, until such time that the rules are revisited as and when these infractions happen, I am duty bound as the enforcer of the rules of the league to prepare charges and upon conviction, ask for the sanctions that are ordained in the rule book.
“It is a matter of public record that in the previous season, Kaizer Chiefs appeared at least four times on the same charges before the PSL DC. This season, they have now made a second appearance.
“The DC observed that this particular type of misconduct is not only germane or exclusive to Kaizer Chiefs. Last week, Orlando Pirates Football Club suffered the same fate, and it’s only a matter of time before other clubs follow suit.
“This type of misbehavior, especially by those who claim to love and support their clubs, does not augur well for the development of a product that should easily be consumed without difficulties and unpalatable behavior.”
