Why Chiefs’ Tashreeq Morris’ availability for the Soweto Derby is doubtful
While Kaizer Chiefs fans are anticipating seeing their new signings in action in the Soweto derby over the weekend, Tashreeq Morris could be an unavailable for the game.
Morris joined Amakhosi carrying a red card he received on 12 January in SuperSport United’s 3-0 defeat at the hands of Sekhukhune United.
Chiefs announced the signing of Morris on a two-and-a-half-year deal on Monday alongside Thabo Cele and Glody Lilepo Makabi. The announcements were met with excitement, especially ahead of the Soweto Derby on Saturday.
Orlando Pirates welcome their crosstown rivals – Chiefs – in a potentially explosive Betway Premiership encounter set for the FNB Stadium on Saturday. Kick-off is 15H30.
WHAT THE PSL HANDBOOK SAYS ABOUT A CASE LIKE TASHREEQ MORRIS’
According to the PSL handbook, [Article 53:1] “A player dismissed by the referee [i.e. “red carded” or sent off, including dismissal as a result of 2 [two] yellow cards given in the same match] will, for the first occasion in a season, be suspended from participation in the next 2 [two] matches to be played by his team in any Competition under the auspices of the League.”
Article 53:8 further says, “Where a Player or Member Club Official transfers to a new Member Club during a period of suspension, the suspension will transfer concomitantly to the new Member Club.”
In Morris’s case, he missed SuperSport’s 1-0 loss to Polokwane City on Friday, 17 January. With the January transfer window closing on Tuesday, 28 January 2025, the same day Matsatsantsa were in action, Chiefs may have registered him as their player before serving his second match.
The Tshwane side only played their second match on Tuesday night. They faced Magesi FC in the last 32 of the Nedbank Cup, which would have been Morris’s second match out.
If Morris’s registration was completed before the match, the second suspension match would be as a Chiefs player on Saturday. It remains to be seen whether he will be eligible to face the Buccaneers in what would be an exciting debut for him.
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