‘Muti’ teams face harsh penalties
Kabelo Boranabi | Monday June 23, 2025 06:00
Belief in muti and its associated practices reached a peak in the just-ended season, with club officials engaging in the rituals in full view of opponents, spectators, administrators, and sponsors. The issue was again the talking point last weekend during the Orange FA Cup final and the second leg of the Premier League playoffs, which were marred by ugly brawls. In the two games, play had to be halted and kick-off delayed whilst the match officials in both cases moved swiftly to caution and dismiss the perpetrators. The incidents shone the spotlight on muti use in domestic football, whilst amplifying calls for action from authorities. In one incident, Jwaneng Galaxy and Gaborone United (GU) officials clashed before kick-off of the league decider played in May. Speaking to MmegiSport on Thursday, BFL chief executive, Bennett Mamelodi lashed out at the offenders as he said these rituals are likely to bring the game into disrepute and could taint the league's image.
'As the BFL, we do not tolerate ritualistic tendencies as they are tantamount to bringing the League into disrepute. Instructive circulars have been issued to clubs and the Referee's Department on the matter,' Mamelodi said. He added that the BFL has since advised by the Referees Committee that as per FIFA laws specifically Law 12 that ritualistic tendencies can only be classified as unsporting behaviour which is punishable by a caution.
'To their credit the match officials have heeded the call and have acted decisively against transgressors,' he said. The FIFA Law 12 further suggests fines, match forfeiture, points deduction, and stadium bans for those caught in the voodoo acts. This is in addition to the yellow card and red card reprimand. Mamelodi has said the league is exploring mechanisms to issue stiffer punishment for ritualistic tendencies in the next season. At present, the harshest punishment for those caught disrupting the game through muti practices has been cautions and dismissals. But Mamelodi said BFL intends to apply the full FIFA laws on the matter.
'Lately, we have been in engagements to explore mechanisms to enable for the lawful issuance of harsher punishments, so that we may eliminate such practices from our game. The plan is to have such occurrences drastically reduced next season,' said Mamelodi. GU had reported their case against Galaxy that was dismissed whilst there was no action taken against those involved in the past weekend's unsavoury actions.