First Division committee abandons appeal
Calistus Kolantsho | Tuesday May 19, 2015 12:14
The committee’s treasurer, Thebeetsile Mokgwa told Mmegi Sport they decided to abandon the ßappeal after a meeting with the BFA executive committee on Friday. Mokgwa said appealing the decision would have had an impact on the association. He said in the end, they came up with a solution that would serve the interest of football. The DC ruled the decision, which the committee took regarding the abandoned Fighters and Gantsi Terrors game, was improper.
The committee had awarded Fighters three points for the abandoned match. However, the DC said the committee’s decision should be set aside in its entirety.
But, the committee felt undermined by the DC’s pronouncement. “We have agreed the DC should be called to order. The DC was wrong to say the replay between Gantsi Terrors and Fighters would be expensive.
“Replays have always been played and teams have never complained about costs,” Mokgwa said.
He said if the committee had challenged the DC’s decision, it was going to win. The DC said in its judgement, the committee in apportioning the blame for the abandonment of the game, did so without conducting a disciplinary hearing or constituting a disciplinary committee to hear and determine the matter.
For his part, Santos chairman, Lyndon Mothusi argued that in terms of BFA Play Rules and Regulations, all cases of violence should be submitted for hearing to the DC. Mothusi argued that the committee failed to do so and they decided to deal with the case themselves. He complained that Santos protested as they felt there was injustice against the team.
He said the awarding of three points to Fighters over the abandoned Terrors match had displaced Santos on the log.
“The committee should be brought to book for undermining the decision of the DC. What the committee has done amounts to insubordination.
“They should be dealt with seriously,” said Mothusi.
He said the committee failed to call Fighters and Terrors for a hearing after the game was abandoned.
Fighters will now play Santos on Wednesday afternoon at Lekidi ground and the winner will proceed to play Green Lovers for a place in the Premier League.