Times Of Swaziland: ‘BUCS’ FACE E95  000 FINE

‘BUCS’ FACE E95  000 FINE
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BY NTOKOZO MAGONGO on 11/05/2021 08:40:00


MBABANE – Moneni Pirates are in trouble.
They face a maximum fine of E95 000 if found guilty by the Disciplinary
Committee (DC) for causing the abandonment of their MTN Premier League game
against Mbabane Swallows on Sunday at King Sobhuza II Memorial Stadium. They
also stand to lose three points and three goals to Mbabane Swallows. Moneni
Pirates refused to remove Captain Menzi ‘Magawugawu’ Simelane from the squad
list after the call from Match Commissioner Bhekizizwe Mkhabela, who argued that
the player’s COVID-19 results were not clear as to whether they were negative
or positive. They face E50 000 for abandoning the match, E25 000 that was
suspended from the first matter they had before the DC, where they were found
guilty of causing the abandonment of their match against Mhlume Peacemakers on
December 12, 2020 and E20 000 for breaching the COVID-19 regulations.
Abandoned
The match was abandoned with both teams’ players already in the field of play
ready for kick-off. Pirates are likely to be charged with article 4 (18), ‘any
club walking out, refusing to play a match or refusing to honour a fixture duly
issued by The PLE and/or whose fan(s), supporter(s), official(s) invade the
field of play and/or throw missiles/objects into the field of play which would
result in the match officials stopping the game shall be deemed to have caused
the abandonment of the match, and shall, if found guilty of such an offence lose
the match, with three points and three goals awarded to their opponents, and a
suspension of not more than three months imposed on them plus a fine of not less
than E50 000 by the DC.
Pirates will be facing the DC for the second time having been found guilty for
contravening Article 4 (18) of the rules and regulations, where they are said to
have forced the abandonment of their match against Mhlume Peacemakers at the
start of the season, December 12, 2020. Pirates argued that the reason they
refused to take it to the field was because one of their players and captain
‘Magawugawu’ had tested positive for COVID-19. They said some of their
players recorded high temperatures. They were found guilty, fined E50 000, half
of which was suspended for the rest of the season on condition that the team
does not commit a similar offence and now they find themselves almost in the
same predicament. Pirates are also likely to be fined E20 000 for failing to
provide negative tests results for their captain as per the directive of the
match commissioner, Bhekizizwe Mkhabela.