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The fine was imposed after the club allegedly used a player who had been red carded.
The Bulawayo-based league debutants also feel there is conspiracy against Bulawayo teams as other clubs have committed worse crimes than them but still got away with suspended sentences or even lighter fines.
Quelaton were found guilty of using a suspended player, Zibusiso Sibanda during their 3-0 loss to Motor Action at Luveve Stadium and in addition to the fine, they had three points docked leaving them with three points.
The club has so far won two matches.
In their letter to the Quelaton secretary, PSL wrote: “In terms of the Premier Soccer League Rules and Regulations Order 33.2 and 33.3; Any player given a red card shall immediately leave the pitch, or the bench and in addition shall be suspended automatically for two official consecutive matches.
For avoidance of doubt, any friendly or charity match, shall not be treated as an official match.”
The letter further states that in terms of Order 36.1.4; use of an unregistered/ineligible player in a league match would result in three points being deducted and thrown away and a fine as set by the Management Committee.
“Please be advised that your club has been docked three points and fined a sum of $5 000. Kindly ensure that the above sum is paid not later than 31 May 2012”.
A bemused director, Tawanda Ruzive said they were also not furnished with the PSL rules and regulations when they joined the league.
He argued that in Division One, a player missed a single game if he received two yellow cards in one match and they thought that was the case with the PSL.
“We do not deny that we breached the rules especially after going through them now but our argument is that the league should have availed those rules to us before the start of the season and besides, the $5 000 actually induces shock especially if other teams paid far less amounts as fines for more serious violations as compared to ours,” said Ruzive.
For playing without a sponsor’s logo on their kit during the same match that Quelaton fielded Sibanda, long serving club in the league Motor Action were reportedly fined $900.
Last year Caps United were fined $3 000 and docked three points over their fans’ behaviour that led to the abandonment of their match against Gunners.
Ruzive said the fine was just too harsh given the circumstances.
“Even if you check on the rule book, there is nowhere where it is written that a team will pay that kind of money meaning its at the discretion of whoever will be handling the case.
“All we are saying is that they should be humane and strive to save football especially in Bulawayo,” he said.
The Quelaton issue might also open a pandora’s box as many teams are reportedly using suspended players who received three yellow cards.
“Some clubs have been told that unless they receive written communication from the league, they can continue using those players who would have accumulated three yellow cards which according to the standing rules and regulations calls for a one match suspension,” said a source.
Such a situation presents problems for coaches and there is therefore need for the PSL to expedite information dissemination to the clubs.
In the 1999/2000 season a storm erupted between Highlanders and the league, when then PSL secretary-general Leslie Gwindi wanted to suspend Zenzo Moyo and Dazzy Kapenya for cards that the duo had accumulated some months before the crunch Highlanders/Dynamos match at Barbourfields Stadium.
Bosso used the players after arguing that the late notice was deliberate and the Bulawayo giants won that game 2-0.
Online Reporter