Top clubs in PSL glare for invasion

THE Premier Soccer League’s (PSL) disciplinary committee will hold its hearing of Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates – charged over an ugly pitch invasion in February – in June.

The head of the PSL’s legal division‚ Michael Murphy‚ said plans were to hold the trial in early June‚ but that the availability of an expert who prosecutor Nande Becker wants to call might not make that possible.

Murphy struggled to explain why a matter that is now three months old has not been resolved.

The PSL’s legal head said a convoluted process of assembling evidence‚ and also of ensuring that systems are improved in the league’s security manuals‚ have been the reason.

Murphy was at pains to deny public perception that the PSL has dragged its feet on the DC because it involves Pir whose chairman‚ Irvin Khoza‚ is also chairman of the PSL.

“It’s drivel. It’s completely Murphy said yesterday.

“If these clubs lose [in the DC] in the context of something as serious as this‚ they are facing at best for them a massive fine.

“And we now have top guys on that disciplinary committee. So for those clubs this is a very serious issue.

“We all‚ I think‚ have got a responsibility to start looking at that the country seems to be becoming more violent.

“And we need to find a way to address this.

“And the DC should be the smallest part of it. People should be asking bigger questions like‚ ‘What really are we doing (to improve security)?’.”

Pirates fans were the first to invade the pitch‚ following Percy Tau’s 82ndminute sixth goal for Sundowns in a humiliating 6-0 Absa Premiership thrashing at Loftus Versfeld on February 11.

Players and benches sprinted for the safety of the change-rooms as Sundowns fans streamed on in response‚ ugly fighting broke out‚ an SA Police Services armoured vehicle entered the field‚ and stun grenades and teargas were fired. — TMG unfair‚”