‘BUCS’ FACE E95  000 FINE

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.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: