Chairman of relegated side La Masia, Nazeer Barker, has shared his thoughts on the recent ruling by the SAFA arbitrator that went against them.
SAFA arbitrator Nazeer Cassim this week ruled on the complaint lodged by La Masia against Marumo Gallants and Pretoria Callies.
Gallants were accused of breaking the rules after using Thapelo Dhludhlu, who had played for three teams in one season, including the Motsepe Foundation Championship side.
Despite acknowledging that Gallants were in the wrong, Cassim ruled that the club be reprimanded and also pay the costs of the arbitration as well as the legal costs incurred by La Masia.
But the former DStv Premiership side, Gallants got away with the issue due to the technicality that La Masia lodged the complaint outside the 40-day period, as prescribed by the PSL rules.
SAFA ARBITRATION RULING A SURPRISE TO MOTSEPE FOUNDATION CHAMPIONSHIP RELEGATED SIDE
“I don’t know. How do you find someone guilty of that offense but there is no punishment for it? For you to be sanctioned you have to pay my legal cost [but] there is no punishment at all,” Barker told FARPost.
“After the arbitration, I was confident, everybody in that meeting was confident. I think Marumo Gallants were not confident. But the following day the ruling was issued, it goes your way but not your way.
“There was a consensus from all parties involved that it was wrong for a player to play for three teams,” he said.
“If you read the ruling, the arbitrator agrees with everything that they are guilty. But the final outcome is like, was it instructed? You know you will get a perception that there could be an instruction for it to be given that way.
“I don’t know. I mean what message does it send to the PSL? It sends a message to the PSL that the rest of you register players, go against the rules and pray for 40 days that it gets out of the window and you get away with it. That’s the message it indirectly sends.”
WILL LA MASIA TAKE THE MATTER FURTHER AFTER A DISAPPOINTING OUTCOME?
Barker says the club has not made a decision on where they will be approaching the courts on the matter.
“At this moment we will have to consult with the legal minds and take a decision from there,” he added.
“You must also remember that going the legal route is also costly. So even if you want to [challenge the decision in court], you have to look at finances. See if you can afford to take this further because it obviously costs money to take it further.”
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