Times Of Swaziland: LEOPARD DEMAND REPLAY

LEOPARD DEMAND REPLAY
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BY ASHMOND NZIMA  on 15/03/2019 08:09:00


MBABANE – It is back to square one for relegation-threatened Matsapha United
in the ‘towel incident’ case against Royal Leopard.
Just when the Mhlume-based ensemble were celebrating getting maximum points and
three goals, which moved them off the foot of the table via the boardroom, the
police side has since burst their bubble.
The latter have since appealed the February 7, 2019 verdict by the Disciplinary
Committee. They were found guilty of causing the abandonment of their MTN
Premier League game.
They now want a replay to be ordered by the Appeals Board, which is the supreme
judicial body in local football.
The matter was heard on Monday night by the Ndumiso Shongwe-chaired Eswatini
Football Association (EFA) Appeals Board and judgement was reserved until next
Wednesday.
The charges had emanated from an incident which happened in Mhlume late last
year. With the score between the sides goalless before resumption of play, a
fan, who was allegedly from the visiting team, grabbed the Matsapha goalkeeper
Innocent Obodai Adja’s towel and vanished into thin air. A fruitful chase for
the fan began while the game was eventually abandoned.
verdict
In the appeal, Leopard challenged the guilty verdict of the Disciplinary
Committee on grounds that the incident allegedly happened outside the field of
play and was not an invasion.
The DC had found them guilty of contravening Article 4.18 of the Rules and
Regulations, which is about causing the abandonment of a match by invading the
field of play, throwing missiles or refusing to play. On top of forfeiting
points to the opposition, they were further slapped with a E50 000 fine as per
the rules.
Leopard are represented by well-known lawyer Zakhele Dlamini and the
representation was confirmed by team PRO Frank Hurube.
appeal
“We’re aware of the appeal.
“We were represented by our CEO ‘Internash’ (lawyer Martin Dlamini).
We’re still waiting for the verdict,” said Matsapha PRO Bheka Magagula.
A verdict different from the one issued by the DC can lead to a major shake-up
on the league charts. As it stands, Matsapha are only a place above the drop
zone on superior goal difference to Vovovo. Losing the three points can relegate
the former back to the basement. Contenders for the wooden spoon at the moment
are Mbabane Citizens, who are on 15 points.
For Leopard, who are five points clear at the top, a replay can provide them
with an opportunity to stretch their lead to eight points. Six games are left
before the curtain falls on what has been an enthralling 2018/19 campaign.