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Robson Sharuko – Editor
THE PSL could plunge into a MESS if it implements a controversial face-saving move to try and cover up for its schoolboy blunder by suspending Herentals captain, Tino Benza, from the club’s next league match at the weekend.
The Students are set to host ZPC Kariba at Rufaro on Saturday.
Yesterday, the PSL released the names of the players who are suspended for the next round of fixtures and Tino is one of those ineligible to feature this weekend.
The league’s rules and regulations are clear that a player who accumulates THREE yellow cards is ineligible to feature in his club’s next official fixture.
“Similarly, where a player has accumulated three yellow cards, he shall automatically be suspended for one official match again with rule 33.3 applying mutatis mutandis.
“Such suspension shall be applicable on the next official match,” reads the PSL rules and regulations.
Now, therein lies the PROBLEM.
· The PSL have exclusive custody of the official disciplinary records, which includes the yellow and red cards, and advise their clubs of the players who would be ineligible for the next round of matches.
· Those records show that Tino accumulated three yellow cards, in the first half of the season, in matches against CAPS United, Manica Diamonds and Bikita Minerals.
· That means he should have missed his team’s next match against Hwange at the Colliery on April 28 this year.
· However, the PSL blundered and did not include Tino among the players who were ineligible for that round of matches.
· Tino played against Hwange and helped his team to a 1-1 draw at the Colliery. He was shown a yellow card in that game, bringing the number of his yellow cards to four, and on June 10, the PSL suspended him for his club’s next match against Yadah.
· The PSL said he was on suspension for yellow cards accrued from games against “CAPS United, on March 16, Manica Diamonds, on April 13 and Bikita Minerals, on June 1.”
· The PSL somehow didn’t include the yellow card he received for the home game against FC Platinum.
· Yesterday, the PSL again advised Herentals that Tino has been suspended for three yellow cards in games against “Manica Diamonds, on April 27, Ngezi Platinum Stars on April 13 and FC Platinum last weekend.”
· Herentals have only played against Manica Diamonds once this season but somehow, in their attempts to cover up their mess, the PSL did not realise that and even give two different dates for the Students match against the Gem Boys.
· In the first correspondence of June 10, that match was played on April 23, while in the second correspondence, it was played on April 27.
· Herentals are arguing that Tino has only received two yellow cards, since his return from suspension, and therefore, cannot be suspended for the match against ZPC Kariba.
· The club say a review of their records yesterday showed that Tino, indeed, has received six yellow cards but they are opposing the decision by the PSL to choose when he should be suspended and when he should play.
· The PSL will also have to deal with the potential backlash from Hwange who can argue that they could have picked all three points had the league suspended Tino, as should have been the case, after he picked his third yellow card.
· That has serious consequences in terms of relegation and, in trying to find a way to fix their error, at the expense of Herentals, the PSL could have exposed themselves to serious trouble.
Online Reporter