Kaizer Chiefs Ready To Take On PSL
Kaizer Chiefs is ready to take on the Premier Soccer League in a legal battle. The club and the league are headed for war over two games not played in December 2021. Kaizer Chiefs failed to turn up for two DSTV Premiership games citing a COVID-19 outbreak at the club.
The PSL invoked the rules agreed upon by all clubs, which state COVID-19 cannot be used as an excuse to forfeit a match. Kaizer Chiefs then took the matter to the South African Football Association, SAFA, for arbitration. The arbitration hearing ruled that Kaizer Chiefs were correct in not fulfilling the fixtures and ordered a replay of both games.
Kaizer Chiefs are now saying that they are ready to defend against any action by the Premier Soccer League to have the ruling by the SAFA Arbitrator set aside in a court of law.
“Notwithstanding the fair outcome and a costs award to those affected by the organising of the two matches, it appears the league is dissatisfied with the outcome and intends to review it, with a view of setting aside the award in the High Court. This unfortunate step has taken the club by surprise as in doing so the league is in breach of its own Constitution and Rules as well as SAFA Statutes which frown upon the Court systems for resolving football disputes,” read a statement from Kaizer Chiefs.
The Natuerena based giant of local football has made it clear it is ready for a legal showdown with the league over this case.
“The Club will have no choice but to defend such a challenge as it is of the view that the arbitrator came to the lawful and reasonable conclusion that, it would have been negligent if not reckless for the Club to field a team for the two games, and that Kaizer Chiefs acted as a responsible employer in the circumstances,” the statement declared.
All this will cast a big shadow over the ending of a PSL season without legal battles. Last year the GladAfrica Championship was finished in disarray over COVID-19 related issues, with Royal AM taking all sundry to the highest courts in the country.
The case also throws an unwanted spotlight on COVID-19 rules agreed by all clubs, including Kaizer Chiefs, at the onset of the pandemic. SAFA was not a party to the agreements between the PSL and its clubs. It can potentially open the door for clubs previously punished under the COVID-19 regulations to take their cases up with SAFA and the courts.
The Premier Soccer League has not yet issued an official statement.
