Cape Town City could be reinstated into the Premier Soccer League top-flight amidst an ongoing case of player ineligibility against Marumo Gallants.
On Monday, 28 July, a ruling from Nazeer Cassim Senior Council – in possession of this publication – ruled in favour of City over the complaint that Monde Mpambaniso was improperly registered by Gallants, who acquired the status of the now-defunct Moroka Swallows to return to the top-flight for the 2024/25 season.
“The distinguishing feature of this complaint apropos the other two complaints is the lack of a clearance certificate in respect of the player, Monde Mphambaniso (“MM”),” read part of the ruling.
“There is no dispute that there was no clearance certificate issued in respect of MM from the club for whom MM played in the 2023/2024 football season.
“City’s complaint is that Gallants is guilty of a violation of rule 31.8.9.3 of the League’s Handbook which requires a clearance certificate to be submitted to the League in the case of a player previously registered as a professional with a member club.”
It’s been adjudged that no clearance certificate was issued to the league, which the judgement at the South Africa Football Association (SAFA) arbitration states; the member club must be fined R100,000 for each match the player was fielded in and forfeit the match – while the player ‘may also be sanctioned’.
If this comes into effect, Gallants would lose 28 points, from the points won while the said player featured in from the 2024/25 season, leaving them in 15th place with only four points, in a 15-team season where Royal AM was expelled.
The matter now heads to the PSL Disciplinary Committee, which could impose a points deduction on Gallants for last season.
City — who finished 15th and were relegated after losing in the playoffs, where Orbit College were promoted — argue that such a sanction would see Gallants drop below them on the table — raising the prospect of a dramatic reshuffle with less than two weeks before kick-off
Meanwhile, chaos also clouds the Motsepe Foundation Championship, where several ABC Motsepe League sides are embroiled in disputes after controversial playoffs that saw Midlands Wanderers, The Bees and Gomora United promoted.
This is a developing story…
Story by Lorenz Kohler (@Lorenz_KO).
