Relegated Motsepe Foundation Championship side Black Leopards have been dealt a major blow after the SAFA arbitration ruled against them in their bid to have some of their league matches replayed.
Leopards have been embroiled in a battle with the Premier Soccer League [PSL] over a supposed FIFA ban, which led to them playing without their new players at the beginning of the just-ended season.
A few days before Leopards’ first league match of the 2025/26 campaign against Casric Stars at the Thohoyandou Stadium, the PSL initially issued the club with new player registration cards but later withdrew them, citing a FIFA ban.
HOW DID THE BATTLE BETWEEN BLACK LEOPARDS AND THE PSL BEGIN
This publication understands that at the time, there was no official confirmation of a player registration ban on the club. This resulted in Leopards playing the first four games without a full squad and failing to field the required number of Under-23 players. The registration cards were later released after FIFA confirmed that the ban did not exist.
Their two matches against the University of Pretoria and Lerumo Lions were also played under protest. Both Lerumo and AmaTuks won the protests and were granted maximum points after both matches ended in a stalemate.
However, Leopards appealed and took the matter to the SAFA arbitration. Part of the club’s fight was to replay their opening four league matches, which they believe was not their doing due to player unavailability.
SAFA ARBITRATION RULES AGAINST MOTSEPE FOUNDATION CHAMPIONSHIP SIDE
FARPost has since established that the SAFA arbitration has ruled against Leopards to have their matches replayed. They have also awarded both AmaTuks and Lerumo Lions three points and three goals for their matches against them.
However, this publication has gathered that the battle could be far from over as the club is said to be intending to challenge the decision in court.
RELATED STORY: From relegation to replay? The verdict that could change everything for Black Leopards