The Free State’s ABC Motsepe League play-offs to decide this year’s champion between Mangaung Unite FC and D’ General FC which was in limbo is set to take place today – Thursday, 30 May. Safa as the football governing body confirmed the details and the Dr RP Molemela Stadium as the host venue for the provincial play-offs.
The Free State High Court on Thursday, 23 May, struck off the roll an urgent case filed by Bloemfontein Celtic FC, giving Safa the benefit of continuing with the play-offs and submitting a winner by Thursday, 30 May.
Celtic filed an emergency high court case seeking to overturn the arbitrator’s decision to award D’ General three points, while listing the following parties as the respondents: the South African Football Association (Safa) in the Free State (first respondent), Safa national management (second respondent), D’ General (third respondent) and Dikgosi FC (fourth respondent).
The entire controversial episode started with D’ General lodging a dispute against Dikgosi for failure to produce a smart card or identity document (IDs) for one of its players in their return league fixture, which ended in a one-all draw. The match in question was played on 9 March this year.
The Botshabelo-based D’ General took the dispute for arbitration because the club was aggrieved by the Safa provincial disciplinary hearing’s verdict.
The appeal hearing was held on 29 April, with Safa’s appeal board dismissing D’ General’s case and ruling that the appeal fee was to be forfeited to Safa.
D’ General appealed to have the decision of the disciplinary hearing set aside and be awarded three match points, including three goals.
The effect of arbitration saw D’ General ascend to the top of stream A and Celtic finish in second position.
Furthermore, by virtue of the arbitrator’s outcome, D’ General will face Mangaung, the winner of stream B, to decide this year’s Free State ABC Motsepe League champion.
Initially, Safa’s provincial management had scheduled the match for 19 May. However, after Celtic had filed an urgent case, it was then cancelled, pending the Free State High Court’s outcome.
The winner of the provincial play-offs automatically qualifies to compete for promotion at the national play-offs, which will culminate in two clubs being promoted to the second-tier professional league, the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
