A LEGAL battle is looming in football after the PSL executive yesterday rejected the election of Kirsten Nematandani as president of Safa.
A LEGAL battle is looming in football after the PSL executive yesterday rejected the election of Kirsten Nematandani as president of Safa.
The rejection was endorsed at the league's offices in Johannesburg.
The Premier Soccer League argues that Safa erred by not heeding advice by electoral officers Judge Ralph Zulman and Advocate Ishmael Semenya, SC, to adjourn the meeting and refer the dispute for arbitration. This came after concern was raised over the eligibility of Danny Jordaan and Irvin Khoza to stand for the presidential election.
At a chaotic media briefing of the PSL executive yesterday, the league's chief executive Kjetil Siem said the league wrote to Safa to ask for transcripts of Saturday's annual general meeting.
There was drama at the meeting after journalists insisted that they wanted PSL chairperson Khoza, who is an interested party in this dispute, to address them.
In response, Khoza through Siem, apologised to the furious journalists, saying he was chairing a PSL executive meeting.
"The league raised its objection to individuals standing for the elections who were not eligible as soon as the list of nominees was made public," Siem said.
"The league's objection was submitted in writing to Safa on September 14 2009. No response has yet been received from Safa.
"It became clear at the annual general meeting that the Safa executive committee had not properly addressed the issue but rather left it for the electoral officer to deal with it.
"When the question of eligibility was addressed by the electoral officer, Judge Zulman ruled that he could not determine the question there and then, and consequently advised that the election should be adjourned and the question referred to arbitration.
"The Safa constitution, article 13.18, states that all disputes arising during the election process are to be determined by the electoral officer, whose ruling shall be final and binding."
The PSL has referred the matter to its board of governors for a way forward.
It also emerged yesterday that Umgugundlovu one of Safa's regions, has instructed its lawyers to dispute the eligibility of the presidential candidates.
They contend the elections were unconstitutional and asked Safa chief executive Raymond Hack to take up the matter.
Hack said the matter had been referred to new Safa president Kirsten Nematandani and his predecessor Molefi Oliphant.
Nemantandani was elected after the withdrawal of Khoza and Jordaan.
PSL rejects safa polls
A LEGAL battle is looming in football after the PSL executive yesterday rejected the election of Kirsten Nematandani as president of Safa.
A LEGAL battle is looming in football after the PSL executive yesterday rejected the election of Kirsten Nematandani as president of Safa.
The rejection was endorsed at the league's offices in Johannesburg.
The Premier Soccer League argues that Safa erred by not heeding advice by electoral officers Judge Ralph Zulman and Advocate Ishmael Semenya, SC, to adjourn the meeting and refer the dispute for arbitration. This came after concern was raised over the eligibility of Danny Jordaan and Irvin Khoza to stand for the presidential election.
At a chaotic media briefing of the PSL executive yesterday, the league's chief executive Kjetil Siem said the league wrote to Safa to ask for transcripts of Saturday's annual general meeting.
There was drama at the meeting after journalists insisted that they wanted PSL chairperson Khoza, who is an interested party in this dispute, to address them.
In response, Khoza through Siem, apologised to the furious journalists, saying he was chairing a PSL executive meeting.
"The league raised its objection to individuals standing for the elections who were not eligible as soon as the list of nominees was made public," Siem said.
"The league's objection was submitted in writing to Safa on September 14 2009. No response has yet been received from Safa.
"It became clear at the annual general meeting that the Safa executive committee had not properly addressed the issue but rather left it for the electoral officer to deal with it.
"When the question of eligibility was addressed by the electoral officer, Judge Zulman ruled that he could not determine the question there and then, and consequently advised that the election should be adjourned and the question referred to arbitration.
"The Safa constitution, article 13.18, states that all disputes arising during the election process are to be determined by the electoral officer, whose ruling shall be final and binding."
The PSL has referred the matter to its board of governors for a way forward.
It also emerged yesterday that Umgugundlovu one of Safa's regions, has instructed its lawyers to dispute the eligibility of the presidential candidates.
They contend the elections were unconstitutional and asked Safa chief executive Raymond Hack to take up the matter.
Hack said the matter had been referred to new Safa president Kirsten Nematandani and his predecessor Molefi Oliphant.
Nemantandani was elected after the withdrawal of Khoza and Jordaan.
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