The Premier Soccer League DC has made it’s ruling over Moroka Swallows after they failed to honour two fixtures at the end of 2023.
Swallows matches against Mamelodi Sundowns and Golden Arrows were cancelled in December after the club informed the PSL they were unable to honour the games, due to players’ striking.
Last week, PSL prosecutor Zola Mojavu charged Swallows for misconduct and bringing the league into disrepute.
And on Thursday, Mojavu confirmed Swallows had pleaded guilty, and were fined R1 million (R600,000 suspended for 24 months) on top of both games being ruled as walk-overs.
“This is a further DC update as I promised last week,” Mojavu said on Thursday.
“I can confirm that earlier this evening Moroka Swallows Football Club appeared before the PSL DC to answer to charges of misconduct, on account of their non-fulfilment of the fixtures, which were scheduled for the 27th and 30th of December 2023, against Mamelodi Sundowns and Lamontville Golden Arrowss respectively. At the commencement of the proceedings after the charges were put to them, they pleaded guilty, and the league accepted their guilty plea and in their result they were convicted accordingly.
“With regard to sanction, having listened to the submissions from the two legal representatives on behalf of the League, as well as Moroka Swallows Football Club, the PSL DC returned the following ruling: One, in respect of each match that was not honoured, the opponents of Moroka Swallows football club were awarded that match on the basis of a three point and three goals basis, what is referred to as a walkover in football nomenclature.
“Two, they were further find a monetary amount of R1 million, of which R600,000 is suspended for a period of 24 months on condition that during the period of suspension, they are not found guilty of the same offence. The balance of R400,000 is to be paid effectively.
“They were further ordered to carry the costs of the seating, which are administratively completed by the league and would be added on to the R400,000 to be paid. As an aside, the DC further cautioned Moroka Swallows about the perilous route and fate that may befall them, should they re-offend in that one of the competent assumptions could easily have been a suspension from the league or a total expulsion from the league.
“However, the DC recognised that they pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity and that was accepted in their favour as indicative of remorse. The DC further accepted their undertaking that they have learned their lesson and they have put measures in place to ensure that a repeat of this unfortunate incident that could potentially damage the brand of the league is not repeated. That is how the proceedings were concluded.”
