PSL shoots itself in the foot

Just when SA fans thought they would be back in the stadiums, it now seems the Premier Soccer League has no will to see our match venues hosting excited supporters once again.

Last week, the league reneged on its promise to use the MTN8 final in Durban on Saturday as a test for our readiness to reopen stadiums which have been shut since March 2020. Instead of allowing 2,000 supporters as initially promised, the PSL strangely allocated all those tickets to the clubs involved in the final – Mamelodi Sundowns and Cape Town City – and some sponsors, leaving scores of real football fans disappointed as no tickets went on sale.

The decision effectively reduced the local game to that of a connected few, completely removing the ordinary fan from watching the cup final. This is not the correct approach, and we implore the PSL bosses to be more inclusive as they think of ways to return fans to the stadiums.

We understand Covid has brought about huge logistical challenges, such as proving if people are indeed vaccinated, but last month Safa led the way by allowing ordinary fans into FNB Stadium to watch Bafana Bafana beat Ethiopia.

Yes, there were some problems, such as ticket-less fans arriving at the gates, and others with no vaccination proof, but those were dealt with by law authorities. In any case, even long before Covid, some fans would flock to the stadium with the hope of securing a ticket, so it’s natural that after such a long lull, there would be chancers. At best, the PSL seems apprehensive and wants to exercise absolute caution before opening the gates.

At worst, the league appears comfortable with the status quo that has reduced the game to an elitist entity, with club owners, their family members and friends being the only ones able to access the stadium. This is a recipe for disaster for the local game, as we’ve seen with the terrible publicity the league got from MaMkhize and her raucous crew recently.

The PSL might see keeping the gates closed as a boost for TV rights holders SuperSport, as fans are forced to watch from the comfort of their homes, but in the long run, this could also have a negative effect. A fan finding the match boring would easily flip to the next channel.

It would have been ideal for the league to open this weekend’s Soweto derby to ordinary fans, even if limited to the 2,000 recommended by government. But clearly the PSL has little interest in seeing fans back, and this could spell disaster for the entire value chain, and even the league’s own brand.