SA football is waiting

The chaotic scenes that followed TP Mazembe’s triumph over SuperSport United at the CAF Confederation Cup last Sunday reflected badly on continental football, to say the least.

Much as we understand that pitch invasion has been the game’s bugbear for many years, the security breach at the Lucas Moripe Stadium should have been avoided. It was unfair, however, of CAF to fine hosts SuperSport about R200 000 when in fact it was the Mazembe fans – whose penalty was a mere R68 000 – who invaded the pitch at the final whistle.

While we don’t agree with CAF’s harsh punishment of Matsatsantsa, it is the swift move in which it took the continental governing body to sanction the clubs that caught our attention.

The verdict was out within 48 hours.

This brings us to a similar incident in our domestic league; but it remains unresolved nine months later. Why has the PSL not pronounced on the verdict regarding the chaos that marred the encounter between Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on February 11?

All we hear is PSL chairman Irvin Khoza hinting that Sundowns will have to account.

After the PSL’s annual general meeting a fortnight ago‚ Khoza said the AGM had resolved to establish workshops to clarify “grey areas” in the Safety at Sports and Recreational Events Act.

“We are waiting,” he said of the Loftus DC outcome.

It seems SA football is content with the waiting game: we are still waiting too for the inquiry into the fatal stampede at the Pirates’ and Chiefs’ Carling Cup clash in July.