FC Cape Town got off lightly
FC CAPE Town should consider themselves lucky with the unprecedented R500,000 fine they have been given by the PSL for fielding an improperly registered player, Noel Yobou of Ivory Coast, in their matches last season.
PSL prosecutor Zola "Javas" Majavu yesterday told Sowetan that had he had his way, the consequences would have been much worse.
"I had asked for the points for all the games where the player was utilised to be docked and that would have meant that the club would have been relegated. I understand why people might think the amount is too much for a club campaigning in the lower league (National First Division), but rules are rules and the punishment must fit the offence," Majavu said.
The articulate PSL prosecutor also said that being lenient on the club because of their status would have sent out the wrong message.
"Until three seasons ago, the maximum penalty for such an offence was R100,000 but all 32 teams, of which FC Cape Town was a part of, all voted for the amount to be raised to R500,000.
"So it's the clubs that actually make the rules, not me.
"We can't go easy on them because they are not a Premiership side as that would be sending out the wrong message," he said.
He also revealed that the club was planning to appeal against the sentence but warned that they could find themselves in bigger trouble.
"They run a risk of actually having the maximum sentence, which was to dock them points, applied. It's just like a criminal appealing against his sentence and end up being locked up for longer than initially sentenced."