Premier Soccer League (PSL) prosecutor Nande Becker has disclosed that they referred the Tebogo Langerman inquest straight to the SA Football Association (Safa) without putting it through a normal disciplinary committee to speed up the process as it’s “an urgent” matter.
The Langerman matter, arbitrated by Safa’s senior counsel (SC) Gcina Malindi, will be heard on Friday next week (September 25) at 10am.
Mamelodi Sundowns included suspended Langerman on their team sheet in their 1-0 win against Bloemfontein Celtic in the Nedbank Cup final on Saturday last week.
The left-back wasn’t supposed to be on the bench, having picked up his fourth yellow card that condemned him to suspension in their 3-0 win against Black Leopards on the last day of the Premiership three weeks ago.
Speaking to Sowetan yesterday, Becker explained why the PSL moved swiftly to pass the matter to Safa for arbitration, highlighting the urgency of this case. “The arbitrator advocate is SC Malindi.
The case is next Friday, 10am. In terms of the Nedbank rules, there’s a provision that matters of this nature can be referred directly to arbitration,’’ said Becker yesterday.
“So also in terms of our rules, the matter is urgent [and] the CEO [Mato Madlala] requested that this issue goes directly to the arbitration instead of the usual DC process ... it’s a cup final and we don’t want to wait for too long to see what happens.”
Safa spokesperson Dominic Chimhavi confirmed the matter had reached their advocates but insisted he couldn't comment further as Malindi was still familiarising himself with the matter.
Sowetan understands that Malindi was chosen by the PSL over three other advocates Safa had availed. Malindi made headlines when he broke down in tears in court while representing former president Jacob Zuma in his application to have the “Spear Portrait” declared unlawful in 2012.
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