Mpho Makola Lodges Appeal Against 6-Month Football Ban
Cape Town City midfielder Mpho Makola has appealed to the SAFA Appeals Board against the Premier Soccer League’s disciplinary committee’s six-month ban imposed on him last month for “assaulting a match official.
Makola was found guilty of assaulting match official, Abongile Tom, during the Telkom Knockout fixture against Kaizer Chiefs at Cape Town Stadium on October 19, 2019.
Makola and Cape Town City have resorted to using video evidence of local, regional and international cases to try and have the “harsh” sentence shortened, upmost in their defence arsenal is the recent incident involving South Africa and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Hlompho Kekana.
The Citizens’ argument has gained credence by the ban handed out to Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Hlompho Kekana in a similar incident.
The Sundowns captain was only banned for four matches (as per article 129 (a) of CAF’s Disciplinary Code) after he pushed a referee in frustration during a 2-1 CAF Champions League away defeat to AS Otoho of Congo Brazzaville in August.
In Makola’s case the PSL prosecutor Nande Becker used Article 57.2.1.2 of the National Soccer League (NSL) Handbook, which carries at least six (6) months for assaulting a match official.
According to City chairman John Comitis, in last Friday’s appeal hearing the SAFA Appeals Board asked the PSL prosecutor and his team to explain why their rules differ to that of FIFA.
“… they asked the PSL to show them why the PSL rules are not aligned with FIFA rules on this matter and the prosecutor was trying to explain that ‘we can have our own rules in South Africa.”
“You know, you need to show me that your rules can be above the FIFA rules. So they’ve got a serious challenge. I don’t know when it is exactly when they have to respond on that one, but I know by the 17th Makola was told they will make a determination [on his appeal].”
“Look, at the end of the day we want what is fair. As I said from the beginning, we don’t for one minute condone his behaviour okay, we know full well that he was wrong. But there’s also a right sentence for the crime and they just need to get that right, that’s it.”
“Whilst we don’t condone his misconduct against the referee‚ the club and football fraternity must fight for our player over a correct sentence. We do not condone the player’s action in any way. However‚ in saying that‚ we still maintain that his punishment was harsh.” said Comitis
The South African Football Players Union also weighed in on the lengthy ban handed to Mpho Makola, arguing that allowing such bans to prevail could set a bad precedent.
“After receiving the report & engaging both the player & manager, our view is that this matter has the potential to set a wrong precedence if not appealed. Furthermore, we are convinced that legally there are higher prospects of success in the matter & justice must be pursued,” SAFPU commented on Twitter.
By Gerald Dandah
