How Notwane escaped with a light fine
Mqondisi Dube | Tuesday November 3, 2015 14:23
Notwane, unlike BDF XI made attempts to seek recourse through football structures before taking their complaint to the High Court, which is the reason why they got off with a light sentence.
According to the judgement delivered last week Thursday, Notwane received a lighter sentence as they had made efforts to get the BFA to listen to their case.
Last season, then championship chasing BDF XI were fined P10,000 and docked six points for a similar offence which ultimately cost them the title.
The BFA Disciplinary Committee saw four out of five members find Notwane guilty of taking a football matter to court contrary to the FIFA statutes.
Stephen Rasetshwane, Situ Chilume (chairperson), Dintle Mphele, Josta Isaac and Martin Dingake presided over the matter.
Notwane was then fined P4,000 as the club had made efforts to compel BFA to listen to their case. Even at the time the judgement was delivered, the BFA had not heard Notwane’s case.
The BFA was represented by Tshiamo Rantao while his name sake, Tshiamo Motsumi stood in Notwane’s corner.
Notwane sought the intervention of the High Court after the team was ordered to play Satmos in a relegation play-off. They lost the case and the match.
Taking a football matter to court is against FIFA statutes, the rules stipulating all matters should be addressed through relevant sport dispute resolution structures.
BFA president said their lawyer is still studying the judgement. Notwane chairperson, Phillip Tiroyamodimo also said their lawyer had received the judgement and was still studying it before advising on the way forward. However, sources close to Notwane said the club felt the fine was appropriate