Moorosi Tsiane
ECONET Premier League pace setters, Matlama are facing a M20 000 fine after their supporters threw missiles onto the pitch in last weekend’s 2-1 loss to Bantu at Setsoto Stadium.
The Premier League Management Committee (PLMC) spokesperson, Moeketsi Ramakatsa, confirmed to this publication on Friday that they will take disciplinary measures against Matlama.
The incident saw the match being stopped for five minutes to calm down the furious supporters after Matlama attacker Phafa Tšosane was called offside in the second half.
“That issue is on our table as we speak and there is no doubt that Matlama will have to face disciplinary action for the hooliganism of its supporters,” Ramakatsa said.
He said Matlama already had a pending fine of M15 000 following a similar incident that happened earlier this season where it was fined M20 000 but the M15 000 was suspended on condition that there is no repeat of such incident for the remainder of the season.
“They now have to pay the M15 000 and an additional M20 000 for the latest offence. There will be no new charges because the offences are similar,” he said.
The Liphakoe vice president said there is no place for hooliganism in football and teams must work hard to instilling discipline in their supporters especially during this time of the season where there is a lot of pressure.
“We cannot tolerate such behaviour in our sport because lives might be affected, so we don’t want that to happen. I also think teams need to ensure that their supporters behave well. This is a crucial time of the season and we know that there is a lot of pressure but that is not an excuse.”
Ramakatsa also conceded that some of the fines are lenient but said the PLMC’s hands are tied as they are not an autonomous organisation.
“We know that some of the sentences are lenient but there is nothing we can do because we are not autonomous. We still rely on the Lesotho Football Association’s (LeFA) rules and regulations so we can’t do anything. It is a long process to amend the rules,” Ramakatsa said.