WHAT A MESS
AJAX WIN IN COURT PUTS NEW SEASON IN DOUBT
New season is now not likely to start at scheduled time.
The 2018/19 season is in danger of being thrown into total disarray after Ajax Cape Town were yesterday effectively given back their top-flight status by a High Court judge.
Judge Denise Fisher overturned a decision by Advocate William Mokhari to dock Ajax Cape Town points and relegate them to the National First Division (NFD) for fielding Tendai Ndoro in games last season against Polokwane City, Platinum Stars and SuperSport United.
According to Fifa rules, players are not allowed to play for three teams in the same season and when Ajax signed Ndoro in January, he had already taken to the field for both Orlando Pirates and Saudi Arabia’s Al Faisaly.
Fisher, however, ruled that a decision on Ndoro’s status could only be made by Fifa’s Player Status Committee (PSC).
According to Fisher’s ruling, Ajax are thus reinstated into 15th place in last season’s league table, meaning they qualify to play in the promotion/relegation playoffs, with the play-offs that did take place declared invalid.
This leaves Black Leopards’ top-flight status in serious doubt, with Lidoda Duvha having won those play-offs, seemingly obtaining promotion from the NFD.
“I am not going to comment about the courtroom, I play on the field,” was chairman David Thidiela’s comment yesterday.
Jomo Sono, who also competed in the play-offs with Jomo Cosmos, said he would play in any new play-offs, but said he needed time to put together a new team.
“Most of the players that played in the play-offs have left, eight have gone. We would have to replay with a different team.”
Ajax have also released several players in recent weeks, including Ndoro.
The Ndoro matter was twice taken to Fifa’s PSC, but that they refused to act on it, first on the basis that they do not deal with appeals, and then on the basis that they do not recognise the Premier Soccer League, only national associations and clubs.
Fifa’s PSC could still rule on Ndoro if this matter is brought to them either by the South African Football Association or Ajax.
The PSL could also appeal Fisher’s ruling, but whatever happens, it seems highly unlikely next season will start as scheduled on August 3. Another problem is that Fisher’s ruling means AmaZulu, and not SuperSport, now qualify for the 2018 MTN8. The PSL said yesterday they had to “properly consider the meaning and effect of the judgment before making any further comment”.