NRB to pay the price
THE Premier Soccer League Disciplinary Committee has imposed heavy fines on Richards Bay FC after an unrest incident on 14 April following the NFD home match against Super Eagles.
Incensed after a poor decision by an official that cost the game, fans and club officials vented their anger against the refereeing team.
According to PSL prosecutor Nande Becker, the club was found guilty last Thursday of ‘failing to prevent their assistant coach, Sello Ntulu from manhandling and abusing assistant referee Tshepo Nojila … and of failing to provide adequate security at the match’.
‘The assistant coach was found guilty of manhandling and abusing the assistant referee and Richards Bay FC was sentenced to a fine of R200 000.00 (excl. VAT) of which R125 000 was suspended for 24 months,’ Becker said yesterday (Wednesday).
‘In addition, a prior suspended sentence against the club of playing a match behind closed doors was brought into effect.
‘Accordingly, the first home match for Richards Bay FC next season is to be played in a closed stadium.
‘Sello Ntulu was sentenced to an eight match suspension of which four matches were suspended for 24 months.
‘The parties were ordered to pay the costs of the sitting and were directed to apologise to the match officials, the fans and the league, which apology is to be published on our website.
‘Sello Ntulu personally apologised to the assistant referee Tshepo Nojila at the hearing.’
First game of new season will be behind closed doors