M. Wanderers fined E15 000

MBABANE – Hub giants Manzini Wanderers were fined E15 000 by the Disciplinary Committee (DC) in a case that was held at Sigwaca House on Tuesday.

‘Liweseli’ were charged with two counts for contravening Article 7 (1) (d) and Article 7 (1) (b) in that on December 7, 2021, at KaLanga Technical Centre, Manzini Wanderers supporters uttered derogatory words to a Young Buffaloes female supporter and further threated to assault her.

Manzini Wanderers were represented by Chief Executive Officer Bheki Mazibuko, who pleaded guilty to one charge.

Article 7 (1) (d) states that uttering abusive or obscene or derogatory words, spitting or emission of saliva onto any person or directed towards a person the offender shall be ordered to pay a minimum of E25 000 or a maximum of E40 000 fine by the DC. This should also include when players incite fans, opposing players and officials, etc.

When delivering the judgment, the DC Chairman Thulani Sibandze considered that the team were a first time offender and their representative did not waste their time, that was why they were fined E15 000.

Charged

Next before the DC was Umbelebele, who were charged with three counts for contravening Article 7 (1) (b), (1) (d) and (1) (g). The Msunduza-based side were represented by Lawyer Musa Shongwe, team officials Celani Dlamini and Bongani Fakudze.

In count one, the Skom Boys players threatened to assault a match official during their game against Mbabane Citizens. In count two, the team’s fans insulted a match official after the game, the final charge was that the team failed to control its fans. This case was, however, discharged, which meant that they were found guilty on two of their offences, which the DC said would run concurrently. The team was fined E10 000.

The DC, after considering that the team were a first time offender and that they were from the National First Division, were fined to pay E10 000. They were charged based on Articles 7 (1) (b) and 7 (1) (d)

This Article 7 (1) (b) states that: Assaulting a referee, PLE official, player, club official, marshal, supporter, fan, spectator or the use of excessive force shall be punished with a fine of not less than E40 000 by the DC. In addition, the offending club shall be ordered to compensate the victim for any financial loss incurred due to the assault.

Contravening

The other case was that of another MTN National First Division side Illovo, who were fined E10 000 for contravening the same charges as those of their counterparts. They were represented by club Chairman Gcina Ndwandwe. They pleaded guilty to two of their three charges, in that during an MTN National First Division match against Msumpe Manchester, the team’s supporters threatened to assault a match official and their captain Mphumuzi Ginindza uttered derogatory words to a match official after the game. The final count was that the team failed to control their fans.

The Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) representative and Prosecutor Sibusiso Manda was against violence in stadiums as this was one factor that made people afraid of going to watch football.