Court restores Ajax back to top flight
THE PREMIER Soccer League (PSL) says it needs more time to study the court ruling that yesterday effectively restored Ajax Cape Town to the top flight of South African soccer.
The court ruled in favour of Ajax following the protracted saga revolving around Tendai Ndoro, who ended up playing for three clubs last season.
In a statement, the PSL said it was still studying the judgment before responding more fully: “The PSL has noted the judgment handed down by Judge Denise Fisher in the High Court. The relief that was sought from the court was the setting aside of Advocate Mokhari SC’s misconduct award together with orders that Ajax Cape Town should be on the 15th position on the final league table, and that the promotion play-offs be set aside.
“Judge Fisher set aside Advocate Mokhari’s award, but declined to hand down the other relief sought. It is necessary for the league to properly consider the meaning and effect of the judgment before making any further comment on the matter,” the PSL said. In Mokhari’s earlier verdict, he docked Ajax nine points, causing them to drop to last on the PSL log and be relegated to the First Division. Now, Judge Fisher has declared his ruling to be of no consequence – and Ajax are restored to their original position of 15th on the 16-team PSL log. They are in the play-off position, which means that the play-offs that took place, and which were won by Black Leopards, are now null and void.
Ajax were also in discussions with their legal advisers as to the ramification of the verdict. “Ajax Cape Town are naturally very pleased with Judge Fisher’s ruling. The club will make further comment once full clarity on Judge Fisher’s judgment is received from its legal team,” said club chief executive Ari Efstathiou.
Ndoro ended up playing for Orlando Pirates, Saudia Arabian club Al Faisaly and Ajax – which is against Fifa rules.
Ajax believed there were extenuating circumstances to Ndoro’s case, which is why they sought clarity from the PSL’s Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) on the player’s eligibility. The DRC said Ndoro could play. The PSL appealed its own DRC and, subsequently, the matter has unravelled into a saga of arbitration hearings and court cases, and now the High Court judgment in Ajax’s favour, with the judge ruling that Fifa make the final and binding decision.