MOROKA SWALLOWS’ PSL DC FATE

Written by: Kamogelo Mogale

DStv Premiership outfit Moroka Swallows FC appeared before the PSL Disciplinary Committee on Thursday the 11th of January 2024. The Dube Birds were charged by PSL Prosecutor Advocate Zola Majavu on charges of misconduct for honouring the league fixtures against reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns on the 27th of December 2023 and Lamontville Golden Arrows on the 30th of December 2023 respectively.

Swallows sent out a statement hours before their fixture against The Brazilians, saying that they won’t be honouring the fixtures against Sundowns and Arrows due to their players having gone on strike for unpaid salaries. With the Soweto based side having not honoured their two respective fixtures, this has put the league into disrepute and they were due to appear before the PSL Disciplinary Committee.

Advocate Zola Majavu has confirmed that Swallows did appear before the PSL DC to answer for their misconduct case. “I can confirm that Moroka Swallows has appeared before the PSL DC on Thursday the 11th of January 2024 to answer to charges of misconduct on the account of non-fulfilment of the fixtures which were scheduled for 27th of December and 30th of December 2023 against Mamelodi Sundowns and Lamontville Golden Arrows respectively”, said Majavu.

“At the commencement of the proceedings after the charges were put to them, they pleaded guilty and the league accepted their guilty plea and in the result they convicted accordingly. With regard to sanction, having listened to the submissions from the two legal representatives on behalf of the league as well as Moroka Swallows FC, the PSL DC returned the following ruling”, Majavu continued.

“In respect of each match that was not honoured, the opponents of Moroka Swallows were awarded that match on the basis of a three point and three goals basis, what is referred to as a walk over in football terms. Swallows is further fined a monetary amount of R1 million of which R600 000 is suspended for a period of twenty four months on condition that during the period of suspension they are not found guilty of the same offence. The balance of R400 000 is to be paid effectively. They were further ordered to carry the costs of the sitting which are administratively computed by the league and would be added onto the R400 000 to be paid”, Majavu concluded.

The fate of Swallows with regards to this matter has been concluded and Majavu and the league have pleaded that they should be no further comment on this matter as the proceedings concluded in this fashion.