Moorosi Tsiane
THE Disciplinary and Protests Committee (DISPROCO) on Friday dismissed a case in which Matlama was challenging the Lesotho Football Association’s (LeFA) decision to end the 2019/20 football season in its current state and declare Bantu league champions.
Tse Putsoa lodged a protest on Monday accusing LeFA of undermining the spirit of fairness by declaring Bantu champions.
Matlama were represented by their president Paballo Makakole and Attorney Tumisang Mosotho.
LeFA was represented by Attorney Qalehang Letsika, Mokhosi Mohapi (secretary general) and Mabonolo Senekane (PLMC) while Bantu FC was represented by Advocate Tefo Rabolinyane and Teboho Lemena (executive committee member).
“As Matlama Football Club, we have learned of the resolution by the LeFA NEC which states, among others that: The 2019/20 season ends henceforth, the log standings are as the date of the suspension of the leagues by LeFA, that Bantu are declared the champions of the 2019/20 Econet Premier League and shall represent Lesotho at the CAF champions…,” part of their protest reads.
“Kindly note that Matlama does not accept the aforesaid resolution and finds the same to be arbitrary, irrational, fails to ensure football fairness and merit, and is in complete violation of the Lesotho Premier League and A Division Rules and regulations 2019 (as amended).”
Matlama were challenging the resolutions on the grounds that “the decision to end the 2019/20 premier league season henceforth and declare Bantu champions is contrary to article 3.1 read with articles 22.1 to 22.3 inclusive of the Lesotho premier league and A Division rules and regulations (as amended)”.
“The decision to the effect that there will not be any relegations for the current season is contrary to article 2.1.3 of the Lesotho Premier League and A Division rules and regulations 2019 (as amended).
“The resolution in its entirety undermines the spirit of football fairness and merit… The resolution in its entirety was made arbitrarily and irrationally without the consideration of other reasonable alternatives…” reads the protest.
However, Matlama’s representatives failed to convince DISPROCO to rule in their favour.
In passing the judgement, DISPROCO said the LeFA NEC was properly constituted to make such decisions.
“The disputed issues are whether the decisions reached by LeFA were supported by law, whether it is fair, or whether the NEC was properly constituted…
“With regards to the issues raised by Matlama FC as to whether the decision was supported by the laws of LeFA, DISPROCO rules that the NEC resolved based on the provisions of the LeFA statutes… Based on the LeFA statutes, Article 50 empowers the NEC to make decisions on this matter, and the decision to end the season… is indeed correct and legal as per the LeFA statutes…
“The DISPROCO rules that Matlama did not challenge the issue of procedure… In the final analysis the Matlama case is dismissed,” DISPROCO ruled.