Chiefs’ double date with league’s DC

A Kaizer Chiefs fan (left) storms at the field and attacks the referee with a vuvuzela. Picture: Anesh Debiky/Gallo Images

A Kaizer Chiefs fan (left) storms at the field and attacks the referee with a vuvuzela. Picture: Anesh Debiky/Gallo Images

Published Apr 8, 2013

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Durban – Kaizer Chiefs are set for a double date with the Premier Soccer League’s disciplinary committee.

The drama of Saturday’s goalless match against Lamontville Golden Arrows, when a fan attacked referee Lwandile Mfiki after he sent off a Chiefs player, comes less than a month after they were charged for an offence at another match at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Chiefs will appear before the league committee on Wednesday to answer to the charge of failing to allow the opposition team, Polokwane City FC, access to their change room at least four hours before kick-off.

That was for their Nedbank Cup game on March 16 in Durban.

Chiefs were the home team and gave the visiting club access about one hour before kick-off.

The Soweto giants went on to win the match 2-0 to advance to the quarter-finals, where they are set to tackle Bloemfontein Celtic at the Free State Stadium on Saturday.

However, it was a different story against Arrows, where Chiefs were on the back foot after midfielder Reneilwe Letsholonyane was red-carded in the 33rd minute.

That sending off, which followed a disallowed Chiefs goal by striker Lehlohonolo Majoro, led to a pitch invasion by two supporters.

One of them attacked the referee. Both were arrested by security personnel.

While generally home teams assume responsibility for security arrangements at PSL matches, Chiefs and fellow Soweto giants Orlando Pirates take charge of their own security.

Matches involving these two clubs are classed as “Category A” games because of the huge crowds they attract.

Therefore Chiefs are likely to face further charges related to the failure to control their supporters.

The league issued a statement in which it condemned hooliganism.

“This is completely unacceptable in our football. It does not do us nor the image of our football any good when we have fans invading the pitch and others throwing objects. We condemn this in the strongest possible terms,” said Cambridge Mokanyane, the league’s acting chief executive.

“We will wait for a full report from both the match commissioner and the referee, which will be forwarded to the league prosecutor.”

The two incidents involving Chiefs sandwiched last week’s unruliness at the same venue where Pirates were held to a 1-1 draw against KZN club AmaZulu.

That match ended with Pirates supporters hurling objects at the Buccaneers coach Roger de Sa, who was escorted off the field by security personnel.

It is unlikely Pirates will be hauled before the league as the incident was not witnessed by the match commissioner. – The Mercury

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