PSL’s order on Eymael not helpful

The Premier Soccer League’s dispute resolution chamber (DRC) is notorious for issuing bizarre rulings and not explaining them.

The latest strange ruling by the league’s DRC came this week, when Luc Eymael, who had joined Bloemfontein Celtic as head coach last month, was ordered back to his old job at Polokwane City.

City had contended that Eymael, who quit the club in a huff last month, still had a valid contract with them and that he owed them money.

They therefore protested against him joining Celtic.

It has taken over a month for the PSL’s DRC to deliberate on the matter and, surprisingly, the verdict released this week stipulated that Eymael should go back to his old job.

The full verdict was not released, so we are not sure as to why the PSL decided the coach should return.

The league also could not be bothered to explain its ruling.

What’s clear to us is that the league has absolutely no consideration for the well-being of Eymael.

He told us this week that he had received death threats, and that his relationship with City had broken down irretrievably.

How, then, is he expected to go back to his old job?

When City recently hosted Celtic in a league match in Polokwane, hostilitities between both teams were so heated that Eymael was barred from entering the Peter Mokaba Stadium dressing rooms.

Television pictures captured Celtic players and officials involved in a scuffle with City’s security personnel, as they locked doors and barred Eymael. Polokwane City’s contention was that Eymael, as his dispute was still unresolved, had no right to be anywhere near the Celtic dressing room.

It was an ugly scene, captured by TV cameras. Given this background, the PSL’s disciplinary body should have been careful not to add fuel to an already fiery situation.

If Eymael indeed owes City some money or is in breach of contract, a better solution would have been to make a ruling ordering him to compensate his former club.

Eymael told us he will appeal, “because lies have been told throughout during this case”. Unfortunately, he refused to elaborate.

What is clear is that relations between he and City are broken to the extent that they can’t work together again.

How that escaped the PSL dispute resolution committee’s grasp is beyond us.