The Premier Soccer League (PSL) has had to swallow copious amounts of humble pie after they discovered they were actually in the wrong as far as the suspension of Mabhuti Khenyeza is concerned.
Khenyeza, while playing for Ajax Cape Town last season, was found guilty of swearing and spitting at a linesman, and suspended for 12 months by a PSL disciplinary committee.
The striker appealed the decision, and he is still awaiting a date for the hearing from the SA Football Association.
In the meantime, Khenyeza had signed for promoted Mpumalanga Black Aces, who, despite being told by the PSL that Khenyeza was suspended and could not play, nevertheless went ahead and fielded the player for a full 90 minutes last week.
Aces argued that, because Khenyeza has an appeal pending, he is not yet suspended and is eligible to play.
The club cited Rule 58.1 of the PSL: “Penalties or orders imposed by the Disciplinary Committee or other body of the League or SAFA will only become effective when the internal remedies available to the party/parties so sentenced have been exhausted, or when the prescribed time limit to exercise the next available internal remedy has expired.”
The PSL, it would seem, then finally took the time to peruse their own rules, and realised they had made a mistake.
The PSL’s chief executive Brand de Villiers immediately sent an apology to Aces, which they published on their website.
According to De Villiers’ letter to Aces: “The league did not consider all the rules and as such formed the wrong opinion with regards to whether Mr Khenyeza can play or not.
“I therefore apologise unreservedly to you and your club for any embarrassment caused. I also apologise for the League issuing a statement on Saturday referring to the matter, clearly this is an internal matter that should be dealt with as such and not through the media.
“You have every right to expect the same level of excellence and competence of me and my colleagues in dealing with the affairs of the League and, as stated, I am responsible and accountable for our performance.”