‘WESLIANS’ COUNTER CRITICS OVER FIFA BAN

MBABANE – Hub giants Manzini Wanderers have addressed their critics regarding their decision to take football matters to court.

General feeling is that this will result to the Federation of International Associations (FIFA) banning the country as it is opposed to football matters being resolved in courts. Wanderers’ Managing Director (MD), Wellington Motsa, has made his stance clear, saying that the criticism stems from a biased understanding of the situation. Speaking at the Swaziland Catholic Centre, Caritas, in Manzini, last Saturday during their mass meeting, Motsa expanded on several instances where football-related issues were resolved through legal channels. He said it resulted in positive outcomes rather than sanctions.

“The consequences of taking football matters to court can vary, but they often include financial penalties, points deductions and legal rulings that can impact the clubs and players involved,” he said. He stressed the importance of adhering to regulations and the potential legal results of violations. Motsa highlighted several cases where football disputes were taken to court, including eight instances involving FIFA, some of which are from the region. One notable example was the case between South Africa’s Polokwane City and Sekhukhune United, where Polokwane City fielded ineligible players lacking the required work permits. This matter was brought before the Johannesburg High Court, which upheld the arbitration ruling, awarding three points and three goals to Sekhukhune United.

He also referenced a 2015 case where FIFA took Manchester United to court over the transfer of Argentina footballer Carlos Tevez. The court ruled in favour of FIFA, imposing a fine on Real Madrid for breaching transfer regulations. Another significant case involved the Namibia Premier League against the Namibia Football Association (NFA), which centred on a dispute over relegation decisions made by the Normalisation Committee. The court ruled that the league had agreed to resolve disputes through arbitration rather than litigation.

He said these cases illustrate the legal complexities and potential consequences of disputes in football, highlighting the importance of adhering to regulations and the role of judicial bodies in resolving such matters. The MD said decision such as goals scored during games could be be challenged or reversed in courts. “Our focus must be on ensuring that all actions taken are in the best interest of the league, its stakeholders and the future of football in our nation. The club is committed to transparency, cooperation and working together with football structures to resolve these matters amicably and justly,” Motsa added.

He acknowledged the efforts, or lack thereof, made by both the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) and the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) in managing the situation. However, he noted that the process and subsequent decisions have highlighted several areas of concern that need to be addressed collaboratively to ensure the continued fairness and credibility of the competition.

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