We’ve been vindicated, justice has been done – Chiefs lawyer
Amakhosi back in the fold as arbitrator rules in their favour
Kaizer Chiefs legal representative Karabo Mathang-tshabuse says her clients acted as reasonable and responsible employers by not honouring their two PSL matches due to 31 Covid-19 cases that assailed the club in December.
Amakhosi were exonerated on Friday.
Safa arbitrator Nazeer Cassim ordered Chiefs to pay for the costs, and that their matches against Cape Town City and Golden Arrows, be replayed. It is still not clear whether City bosses and Arrows will take the ruling lying down, as they honoured the matches and hoped that the three points would be awarded to their clubs.
The ruling means that Amakhosi are back in contention for the league title. Before last night’s match against Arrows, Chiefs were trailing log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns by 16 points. Chiefs were on 35 points from 19 matches while Sundowns were on 51 points after 23 games, before yesterday’s round of matches.
“I can say that the costs that
were incurred by Cape Town City and Golden Arrows, in fairness, Chiefs must repay those costs. The order means that without a shadow of a doubt, it was an impossible situation. It’s a vindication that the club acted as a reasonable and responsible employer,” said Mathangtshabuse.
“So, the arbitration took the responsible decision that in the outcome of justice, those match
es will be replayed. It’s a good outcome for justice. We cannot speculate or pronounce on what Cape Town City or Golden Arrows will be doing,” she said.
“All I can say is that it is really showing that Chiefs acted as a reasonable employer by taking steps before the games by trying to postpone them. And we have confidence that the PSL DC processes will be null and void and that it will not proceed. We will
just have to wait and see what the PSL prosecutor’s next step will be.”
Safa CEO Tebogo Motlanthe reiterated the arbitrator’s decision was final. “It will depend on what avenues the clubs Cape Town City and Golden Arrows may want to follow now. But at this stage a ruling has been awarded and we have to follow what they decided,” said Motlanthe.