Relegated Cape Town City demand harsher punishment for Marumo Gallants in fight to stay up
Still fighting Cape Town CCity chairperson John Comitis is not giving up the fight to remain in the Betway Premiership. Photo: BackpagePix
Image: BackpagePix
Relegated Cape Town City have demanded a harsher punishment for Marumo Gallants, who were fined R200 000 for fielding an incorrectly registered Monde Mpambaniso during the Betway Premiership campaign.
City had hoped the Bloemfontein-based club would be hit with the stiffest penalty possible – a points deduction – for their indiscretion, but the PSL’s Disciplinary Committee handed them a fine after they pleaded guilty to the charge.
A points deduction for every game the player played would have seen the club drop to the bottom of the league, which could have led to City remaining in the top flight. City finished second from bottom in the league last season and failed to successfully navigate their way through the promotion/relegation play-offs.
And now, after not getting their way, Cape Town City have vowed to fight, with chairman John Comitis saying they will be going back to the SAFA Arbitration Tribunal.
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"What I can tell you for now is that we will stop at nothing to see the integrity of the PSL Executive, whom we voted into office, and the prosecutor follow the rules they themselves put into place,” Comitis was quoted by Soccer Laduma.
“We are looking for justice to be done in this case. It's not fair that rules and laws can be overlooked like this. The PSL should respect and follow the rules. That's why we are going to the SAFA Arbitration now."
The case against Marumo Gallants represents the club’s final throw of the dice in staying in the Betway Premiership. Immediately after they were relegated, Comitis made it known they would be trying their best to stay in the league.
Newly promoted Orbit College and Richards Bay FC both refused to sell their statuses to the Capetonians, while TS Galaxy are planning on being part of the league in the new season, despite their much-publicised financial woes.
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