Kaizer Chiefs not getting preferential treatment

The PSL Prosecutor has clarified the position that left a lot of people dissatisfied about certain decisions he handed down in recent months with others describing some of his decisions as a slap on the wrist and literally “favourable” if not lenient to Kaizer Chiefs.

Towards the end of the Steve Komphela reign, Chiefs supporters did not exactly cover themselves in glory or live up to their slogan of “Love and Peace” as they behaved in a manner that could only be described as thuggish.

Following a comprehensive 3-0 pasting at the hands of Chippa United at the FNB Stadium in early April, they (supporters) reacted by throwing missiles onto the pitch and caused untold damage to the World Cup 2010 venue.

They were found guilty by PSL Prosecutor Nande Becker and fined R250 000 of which R50 000 was payable immediately while R200 000 was suspended for 24 months on condition that they are not found guilty of a similar offence during that period.

However, a month later, Chiefs were eliminated 2-0 from the Nedbank Cup by Free State Stars at the Moses Mabhida Stadium and, unable to accept the humiliating loss, once again the unruly supporters went on the rampage, assaulted security personnel, ripped out stadium seats and damaged TV broadcast equipment worth millions of Rands.

Players and match officials were forced to run for the dressing rooms while former coach Steve Komphela resigned from his job after that horrible incident.

“The PSL Disciplinary Committee has found Kaizer Chiefs guilty of the offence and ordered that they play three matches behind closed doors, with one of the matches suspended for a period of 24 months provided they are not found guilty of a similar offence,” read a statement from the DC.

“The DC further ruled that the matches which the club must play behind closed doors must be scheduled for KwaZulu-Natal, since the incident occurred in the province.”

There was concern from many quarters that while Kaizer Chiefs play their home matches at the FNB Stadium, playing behind closed doors at their “alternative” venue in faraway KZN was not going to have any effect on their unruly spectators.

Secondly, there was confusion regarding the “suspended” R200 000 fine from the Chippa United fiasco which many observers thought would be triggered by the violent behaviour of the fans at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

“Not exactly,” responded PSL Prosecutor Nande Becker. “Chiefs were found guilty of failing to provide adequate security during their home match against Chippa United and were found guilty for that transgression.

“However, at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, it was not a Kaizer Chiefs match but a PSL match and consequently security was provided by the PSL and not Kaizer Chiefs,” explained Becker. “The offences are not the same.”

To those who thought that Kaizer Chiefs were receiving preferential treatment even though there was a section of their supporters hell-bent on tarnishing their name and soiling the PSL brand, the Prosecutor has set the record straight.