Kaizer Chiefs Hit with Continued Suspensions for Recurring Crowd Misbehaviour

The Premier Soccer League's disciplinary committee continues to rely on suspended sentences as a form of punishment for clubs, despite the persistently defiant behaviour from repeat offenders like the Kaizer Chiefs. The committee decreed a fine of R150 000 as an adequate punishment for the Chiefs' two incidents of crowd violence last month.

Such resolutions often raise questions about the efficacy of the disciplinary committee's actions in dealing with crowd behaviours that are damaging the League's image. Several observers contend that the offences committed by repeat offenders like Chiefs, who've received multiple suspended fines, warrant stricter penalties.

Critics highlight the conflict of interest that exists within the committee structure, where the PSL prosecutor Zola Majavu and the disciplinary committee members are appointed by the club owners in the PSL. They argue that this conflict prevents unbiased judgement towards the people responsible for their appointment.

Furthermore, the PSL has been intransigent in maintaining this arrangement, to the point they haven't appointed an external chief operations officer outside the club owners' ranks since CEO Brand de Villiers left in 2015.

The recent disciplinary committee session was convened to address two episodes of crowd violence. Distraught Chiefs fans pelted new head coach Molefi Ntseki and his technical team with missiles at the end of two matches in three days, both of which ended in defeat for the Chiefs.

In response to these unacceptable acts, Chiefs were fined R200 000, with R50 000 of it being suspended. They were also ordered to cover the costs of the disciplinary committee's seating, along with an additional penalty of R30 000 for a past offence.

The club now faces an additional suspended sentence, comprising a stadium lockout for their next match if found guilty of crowd mischief within the next six months. This ruling and fine are seen by the Chiefs as another blow, on top of a disappointing 1-0 loss to Cape Town City recently. Despite their team mantra 'love and peace,' the Chiefs' football fans and their actions suggest otherwise.