Royal AM could face PSL sanctioning after failing to honour play-offs fixture

Johannesburg – PSL first division outfit Royal AM have failed to honour their PSL promotion/relegation play-off match of the revised fixtures on Tuesday afternoon after vowing to fight all their way to the highest court on the land for their right to be promoted to the Premiership.

The Durban-based side, owned by businesswoman Shauwn Mkhize and his son Andile Mpisane, contend that the PSL had “violated” their constitutional rights.

The PSL had complied with Judge Ronald Sutherland’s ruling that concurred with the Safa arbitrator decision to award Sekhukhune United three points following the latter’s protest against Polokwane City.

After Judge Sutherland’s ruling the PSL changed the log standings and Royal AM became runners-up on the GladAfrica Championship log while Sekhukhune became the first division league winners, thus gaining automatic promotion to the top flight Premiership.

Although Royal AM were present at their home game venue at Chatsworth Stadium on Tuesday, they did not play the match against Chippa United as they left before the 3pm kick-off.

Chippa kick-started the game with match officials present but they did not have any opponents, thus rendering the fixture a walk-over, meaning the League could award the Chilli Boys three goals and three points, according the League handbook’s regulations on walk-overs.

The PSL is yet to issue a statement on the way forward and the possible sanctioning of Royal AM for not honouring the fixture.

Mkhize went on social media platform Instagram on Monday saying she won’t be bullied into competing in the play-offs while her team had won promotion fairly on the field of play.

“[It’s] a violation of my rights, to fair competition, it’s not my fault that the three points were not awarded before the last two games of the season. Here is where we stand, myself and the entire Royal AM team are law-abiding citizens and we choose to be patient and wait for the court proceedings to unfold,” she said on the Instagram video.

“That being said, we will not be participating in tomorrow’s [Tuesday’s] play-offs as that would be going against Judge Nyathi’s ruling. It’s not over yet.”

Judge AJ Nyathi last Monday granted Royal AM an urgent interdict for the  playoffs to postponed pending the appeal of Judge Sutherland’s ruling.

But last Friday Judge Sutherland dismissed Royal AM’s application for leave to appeal his ruling.


Then on Saturday, the PSL went ahead with the revised fixtures, with the first match ending in Chippa United beating Richards Bay 2-1.

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