PSL mulls use of nets, banning of vuvuzelas to rein in crowds

THE reintroduction of crowd-control netting at football stadiums was mooted at a Premier Soccer League (PSL) management meeting on Monday following the weekend’s vuvuzela attack debacle.

Fresh security concerns were raised on Saturday when a pitch invader tried to strike referee Lwandile Mfiki with a vuvuzela flagged with Kaizer Chiefs colours during an Absa Premiership clash between Golden Arrows and Amakhosi in Durban.

Chiefs and the PSL quickly condemned the incident. Two supporters have been charged and each released on R500 bail.

The league admitted that its security department had taken a knock this season, with the issue of unruly behaviour by Mamelodi Sundowns fans earlier in the season resurfacing.

Sundowns hooliganism in September aimed at getting then coach Johan Neeskens, fired had prompted the PSL to threaten to crack down on supporters who disrupted matches when they were unhappy with their team’s performance.

Individuals would be identified and could be handed lengthy bans from the stadiums, the PSL said at the time.

“We are looking at all remedies of crowd control and curbing pitch invasion during our matches. In our management meeting, it was suggested that maybe we should revisit the possibility of (crowd control) fences,” said PSL head of communications Connie Motshumi.

This method was used at the old Orlando Stadium in the 1980s.

A debate on whether to ban vuvuzelas from stadiums was also on the agenda. However, a backlash is feared. “If the vuvuzela is banned, what are the repercussions?” Motshumi asked. “A few objects are now suddenly being used as weapons at the stadium.”

Last week, Orlando Pirates fans hurled the plastic instrument at coach Roger De Sa to show their displeasure after a 1-1 league draw against AmaZulu at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

The PSL had already increased security following Sundowns fans’ violence, Motshumi said. “Our match stewards are no longer watching games but watching the crowd. We are also aware that one person can’t handle 100 supporters.”