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A NUMBER Premier Soccer League (PSL) coaches, players and club officials have among other issues complained about the handling of matches by referees and in most of the cases it would be at post match interviews.In that regard PSL does not recognise informal complaints amid revelations that clubs should submit formal protests, stating the reasons, so that their respective cases may be heard.
But did you know?
In terms of Order 30.1.2.3 of the PSL Rules and Regulations of protests, a�?A written protest, accompanied by a protest fee of $1 000 is lodged with General Secretariat of the League within 48 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays or public holidays) of the game . . .a�?
Asked on why a formal protest must be accompanied by such a huge figure, at a time when PSL clubs struggle to pay their respective players and coaches salaries and winning bonuses, PSL chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele said:
a�?As a league we only entertain formal protests. The payment of the fee is meant to show how serious a particular club is about its raised matter. The protests should only come through the league that clubs are affiliated to. The formal protests have to be accompanied by protests fee and the letter should state exactly the reasons why a club is protesting.a�?
In order 30.1.2.4 of PSL Rules and Regulations of protests it is further stated that the written protest referred to in order 30.1 sets out the full facts on which it is based and refers to the Article and or Rule and Regulation allegedly contravened by the offending party, and 30.1.2.5 the protest is not made against the refereea��s and or assistant refereea��s decision connected with play, such decisions being final.
In that regard Ndebele said the onus was on the protesting club to ensure that the provisions of regulations 30.1 were fully complied with, and no protest shall be entertained by the leaguea��s secretariat, if the said provisions were not fully complied with, except the chief executive officer of the league may decide to treat it as a complaint.
a�?Should the protest not comply with the said provisions, the protest fee shall be refunded to the protesting club,a�? said Ndebele.
Upon receipt of a valid protest, the chief executive officer of the league will call for further written information and documentation received from the protesting club and forward to the offending party the documentation received from the protesting club and advise the offending party of the nature of the protest and ask such party for a written explanation, but warning such party that such explanation may later be used in evidence against the said party.
Ndebele added: a�?Upon receipt ofA� the replies asked for, or if no replies be received within five days of the chief executive officer of the league making the requests, in terms of order 30.1) the CEO will consider the protest.a�?
Online Reporter