Soweto giants pay price: Chiefs & Pirates fined again for fan misconduct
Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates have once again found themselves in the PSL disciplinary crosshairs, with both clubs receiving fines for incidents of fan misconduct during recent high-profile matches.
Both Soweto giants pleaded guilty to charges of spectator misbehaviour, specifically arising from missile-throwing incidents.
Chiefs faced charges related to the behaviour of their supporters during the fiercely contested Soweto Derby on Saturday, 01 February, at FNB Stadium in the Betway Premiership.
Meanwhile, Pirates were penalised for the actions of their fans during their league encounter against Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday – the 8th of February, at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium.
The two Soweto giants faced the PSL Disciplinary Committee [PSL DC]on Thursday morning, forced to confront the shameful actions of their fan bases.
Chiefs fans, seething with rage after a painful 1-0 loss to Pirates, displayed their aggression by hurling objects onto the field. Similarly, Pirates’ supporters, humiliated by a crushing 4-1 defeat to Sundowns, engaged in a display of unruly behaviour.
CHIEFS TO PAY R150,000, PIRATES R125,000 AFTER FAN MISCONDUCT FINES
PSL prosecutor Zola Majavu explained the fines handed down to the two SA football giants. Amakhosi were initially charged R100,000, with R50,000 suspended for 12 months, contingent on the absence of further spectator misbehaviour.
However, The Glamour Boys already had a R100,000 fine hanging over them from a prior incident where fans misbehaved during their 4-0 loss to Sundowns in the Carling Knockout Cup. Because of the new incident, they now have to pay that old fine plus the new one. As a result, Chiefs must pay the PSL R150,000.
This is the third time Chiefs have been fined for fan misbehaviour this season. They were also fined R150,000 after a Betway Premiership match against Sundowns, which the Tshwane giants won 2-1 back in September 2024.
As for Pirates, they were fined R100,000 for their fans throwing objects onto the field in a game against Sundowns, with R75,000 payable immediately and R25,000 suspended.
Like their rivals Chiefs, Pirates also had a suspended fine from a previous incident—R50,000 from their 3-2 loss to Magesi FC in the Carling Knockout in October 2024. However, as a result of their supporters’ unruly conduct within 12 months, Pirates had to pay the suspended fine. This means Bucs will need to pay a total of R125,000.
CHIEFS AND PIRATES ORDERED TO PUBLICISE FINES, SPLIT COSTS
Majavu also confirmed that the clubs will split the hearing expenses and must release the sanctions on their websites within seven days to reinforce the message that fan misbehaviour directly punishes the clubs.
“The proration of the cost was an attempt by the prosecution to try and minimise the financial harshness that the clubs would have to endure as a result of this,” said Majavu. “And because they appeared on the same day and pleaded guilty immediately, we deemed it prudent to let them share the costs as opposed to settling each club with the full costs, which would not be equitable in our view.
“Over and above that, the PSL DC also ordered both clubs to publish these sanctions on their respective websites within seven days from today, hoping that this will also send a message to their respective fans that this type of behaviour only serves to punish that club and not the perpetrators themselves.”
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