Protests delay Durban City topflight status confirmation

With Durban City heading into the final day of the season in the second tier of SA football leading the log standings, it was expected their promotion would be officially confirmed until a case over an illegible player emerged.

It’s understood the Dispute Resolution Chamber [DRC] will sit on Tuesday – two days after the last round of matches – to determine if there is merits to the case that attacker Saziso Magawana was improperly registered.  

The 26-year-old joined City from Marumo Gallants at the start of the season and JDR Stars are disputing the legitimacy of his clearance.

Magawana made his free transfer around the time Gallants sold their status to Leruma United having purchased the Moroka Swallows topflight franchise.

In their submissions, which the public broadcaster has seen, Stars have argued that United should have given the player permission to leave and not Gallants because the transaction had already gone through.

READ: Orlando Pirates favourites to sign Baroka FC right back

The PSL approved the sale in June and City have insisted the clearance was emailed a month prior, while Stars believe it was only sent issued by Gallants in July, rendering it invalid.

Furthermore, Cape Town Spurs have asked the PSL to investigate two players at Kruger United and Pretoria Callies, respectively, as they are of the opinion they too were improperly registered.

The league has confirmed the willingness to examine the information to determine whether there was misconduct.

Only Leruma United were allowed to issue clearances after the sale and not Gallants, who had officially taken over the Swallows status by then.

Magawana was a prominent player in City’s push for promotion and if the club is found guilty they will be docked points, resulting in them being relegated to the ABC Motsepe League this month.

The PSL has in the past punished Mbombela United in a similar case almost five years ago when the club was found guilty of fielding an illegible player and subsequently docked 23 points.  

United were immediately relegated following a long drawn up case that delayed the release of fixtures in the National First Division for the new season.