ORLANDO Pirates face a massive set of fines and even possibly having to play some matches behind close doors after they lost an appeal against spectator misbehaviour charges
A huge bill awaits the club as a backlog of cases against them for unruly behaviour can now go ahead with the possibility of serious consequences if the Premier Soccer League's disciplinary committee decides to throw the book at them.
Pirates lost an appeal they made against the suspended fine they received for spectator violence at last December's Telkom Knockout final.
This means three other outstanding cases on similar charges can now go ahead - unless Pirates decide to seek arbitration, which will further delay the process. Pirates have yet to face the music on outstanding charges from the following incidents this year:
* 15 February: The club were charged with spectator misbehaviour and unsporting behaviour after supporters threw objects at the Black Leopards goalkeeper twice in the second half of their match;
* 19 May: The PSL took two months to charge Pirates after the crowd invasion at the Moses Mabhida Stadium that followed their win over Lamontville Golden Arrows and successful defence of their league title. They then put the case on hold; and
* 25 August: Pirates were charged after supporters threw an assortment of objects onto the pitch during the MTN8 semifinal second leg against SuperSport United at the Orlando Stadium.
Over the past two years the club have already paid R250,000 in fines and after losing Friday's appeal immediately owe another R100,000.
Then, if they are found guilty in any of the three outstanding cases, they will have to pay over a further R250,000, the suspended fine they were handed from last year's Telkom Knockout, which they unsuccessfully appealed against.
The fines for the three outstanding cases could bring the overall total over two years to more than R1-million.
The incidents at the MTN8 semifinal in August were particularly nasty, including serious injury to a press photographer.
A PSL statement at the weekend said: "The appeals board dismissed the appeal with costs, including wasted costs of the previous sitting that was postponed".
Pirates facing a fine mess
ORLANDO Pirates face a massive set of fines and even possibly having to play some matches behind close doors after they lost an appeal against spectator misbehaviour charges
A huge bill awaits the club as a backlog of cases against them for unruly behaviour can now go ahead with the possibility of serious consequences if the Premier Soccer League's disciplinary committee decides to throw the book at them.
Pirates lost an appeal they made against the suspended fine they received for spectator violence at last December's Telkom Knockout final.
This means three other outstanding cases on similar charges can now go ahead - unless Pirates decide to seek arbitration, which will further delay the process. Pirates have yet to face the music on outstanding charges from the following incidents this year:
* 15 February: The club were charged with spectator misbehaviour and unsporting behaviour after supporters threw objects at the Black Leopards goalkeeper twice in the second half of their match;
* 19 May: The PSL took two months to charge Pirates after the crowd invasion at the Moses Mabhida Stadium that followed their win over Lamontville Golden Arrows and successful defence of their league title. They then put the case on hold; and
* 25 August: Pirates were charged after supporters threw an assortment of objects onto the pitch during the MTN8 semifinal second leg against SuperSport United at the Orlando Stadium.
Over the past two years the club have already paid R250,000 in fines and after losing Friday's appeal immediately owe another R100,000.
Then, if they are found guilty in any of the three outstanding cases, they will have to pay over a further R250,000, the suspended fine they were handed from last year's Telkom Knockout, which they unsuccessfully appealed against.
The fines for the three outstanding cases could bring the overall total over two years to more than R1-million.
The incidents at the MTN8 semifinal in August were particularly nasty, including serious injury to a press photographer.
A PSL statement at the weekend said: "The appeals board dismissed the appeal with costs, including wasted costs of the previous sitting that was postponed".
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