Swallows will stay in the PSL

Moroka Swallows have escaped being expelled from the South African Premier Soccer League for their failure to honour two DStv Premiership matches against Mamelodi Sundowns and Golden Arrows last month.

Players of the Dube Birds went on a strike over salary disputes and didn’t turn up for the both matches which they have since forfeited as part of the punishment. The Brazilains and Abafana Bes’Thende have respectively been awarded a walkover in both matches.

The beleaguered club appeared before a PSL disciplinary committee on Thursday where they were handed a R1-million fine for bringing the league and its sponsors into disrepute. PSL prosecutor Zola Majavu delivered his ruling after the Swallows pleaded guilty to the charges during the sitting.

“One, in respect of each match that was not honoured, the opponents of Moroka Swallows were awarded that match on the basis of three points for a win and three goals in what is referred to as a walkover in football nomenclature,” he said.

“Two, they were further fined a monetary amount of R1-million of which R600 000 is suspended for a period of 24 months on condition that during the period of suspension they are not found guilty of the same offense.

The balance of R400 000 is to be paid effectively. They were further ordered to carry the cost of the sitting which are administratively computed by the league and would be added onto the R400 000 to be paid.

Majavu further revealed that Swallows faced possible expulsion from the league in what would have been an unprecedented move and shocked the football community.

“As an aside, the DC further cautioned Moroka Swallows about the perilous route and fate that may befall them should they re-offend,” he added.