Appeal: PSL nipping straws

Sy Lerman

Not that many will argue with the assertion of Ajax CEO Ari Efstathiou that the Cape Town club were cheated by the manner in which they have been relegated from the Absa Premiership as a result of the docking of seven points for fielding on-the-move striker Tendai Ndoro.

The disputed penalty declaration meant that instead of Ajax finishing second-bottom in the Premier League and going into a play-off for the final position in next season’s top division, they plummeted to bottom place and automatic relegation.

Efstathiou, however, has made it quite clear Ajax will fight to the bitter end to avoid the “injustice” handed out to them – with a High Court protest due to take place in two weeks time and the issue taken further to the international Court of Arbitration for Sport if necessary.

And, whatever the final outcome, the PSL must be holding regular prayer sessions – not literally, of course – that a verdict does not go Ajax’s way in the end.

The promotion play-off, meanwhile, has already taken place and there is no way, it would seem, the PSL can overturn the elevation to the Premiership of winners Black Leopards.

So how could the PSL then solve a potential impasse that would be fraught with problems?

They could not deprive the 16 teams already down for participation in next season’s Premiership of their positions.

And they would then be left with the only alternative of increasing the number of teams in the Premiership from 16 to 17 for one season if not longer – but this would mean all kinds of administrative and other practical complications.

So, if you detect the sounds of prayers at the PSL citadel in Johannesburg’s Parktown suburb in the next few weeks, don’t be too surprised.