EZULWINI, ‘BUFFS’ SEEK E20K COMPENSATION
MBABANE – Young Buffaloes and Ezulwini United are seeking compensation following the last-minute cancellation of yesterday’s match by the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE). The fixture, scheduled to occur at Kalanga Technical Centre with a kick-off time of 3pm, was abruptly cancelled yesterday morning due to anticipated severe weather. It is noteworthy that this match had already been postponed once on December 13 due to heavy rainfall, which resulted in its abandonment after 65 minutes of play. Communication from the PLE, which the media received, confirmed the cancellation. However, both teams expressed their dissatisfaction with the timing of the announcement, considering it too late given the preparations already made. Each club reported incurring expenses of around E10 000 in readiness for the match.
Young Buffaloes’ Chief Executive Officer, Sandile Gwebu, stated: “While we understand the unforeseen circumstances, the timing of the postponement is less than ideal, given the significant costs already incurred. We will formally request compensation from the PLE.” He highlighted the financial burden that arises when matches are cancelled at the last minute and reiterated the importance of monitoring weather conditions to mitigate such issues in the future. Ezulwini’s Public Relations Officer, Guy Magongo, echoed their disappointment, remarking: “The last-minute cancellation has been costly for both teams, as we invest substantial funds in match preparations.” He also affirmed that preparing for a game typically incurs costs of approximately E10 000, and the team believe compensation from the PLE is justified, given the circumstances.
The PLE’s Acting CEO confirmed the decision to cancel games due to the anticipated adverse weather. “In these unforeseen circumstances, we opted to prioritise safety,” he said. “Had we proceeded with the match and the rain affected it, we would have faced criticism.” Regarding compensation requests, he advised that formal correspondence should be directed to the PLE rather than the media. According to the Laws of the Game as outlined by FIFA, the responsibility to cancel matches lies with match officials, based on player, official and spectator safety concerns. While games can be called off shortly before kick-off if conditions become unsafe, it is generally expected that weather assessments are conducted in advance to prevent disruptions.
agreed
International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) guidelines typically advocate for rescheduling a match unless otherwise agreed upon. In African leagues, regulations concerning compensation for cancelled matches can differ. However, teams are often entitled to seek compensation for losses incurred from last-minute cancellations, especially if they can demonstrate that these cancellations were avoidable or poorly managed. A prime example of such a situation occurred during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Cairo, where a match was called off shortly before kick-off due to heavy rainfall. While significant disruption ensued, the teams were later compensated for their travel and accommodation expenses.
Comments (0 posted):