Thidiela wins appeal against PSL, set to return to football
Black Leopards chairman David Thidiela has successfully appealed the one-year given to him by the Premier Soccer League for his verbal attack on referee Victor Hlungwani.
David Thidiela, Black Leopards owner (Photo by Philip Maeta/Gallo Images)
Thidiela was fined R1 million and banned for a year from football by PSL after his verbal attack on Hlungwani following an unfavourable result against his team Leopards in a game against Bloemfontein Celtic at the Thohoyandou Stadium.
The R1 million fine was later reduced to R200 000 with Thidiela expected to pay R100 000 and the other half suspended.
“The entire appeal did not last for more than an hour because it was so obvious. In-fact the Premier Soccer League did not even oppose our appeal they said they were going to abide by the outcome of the appeal. They did not argue against us because they realised that the sanction was wrong,” advocate Eric Mabuza told PhalaPhala FM.
“All his benefits have been restored, he is a full member of the PSL executive committee, and the leaders are present. In the end you look at it, you realise that justice was done. The sentence must also be accompanied with some measure of mercy and understanding, it’s not there to punish but to correct the behaviour,” he added.
READ: Nengomasha advises Billiat to stay at Chiefs
For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.
