Mikhado FC win arbitration war

After almost two months of boardroom war for promotion between Mikhado FC and Mpheni Home Defenders, the arbitrator declared Mikhado the victors.

The case relates to an incident that took place during the Safa Vhembe promotional play-off match between Mpheni Home Defenders and Mikhado FC at the Thohoyandou Stadium on Sunday, 18 June. Home Defenders won the game through penalty shoot-out after a 2-2 draw at the end of the regulation time.

Mikhado lodged a protest with the referee shortly before the game started. In their protest, Mikhado alleged that one of the players for Home Defenders, Rinae Hector Mulaudzi, was not properly registered with the club.

During its meeting that was held a week later to decide on the matter, the league’s disciplinary committee ruled that the player was properly registered with the club. The committee’s decision did not go down well with Mikhado. They decided to take the matter up with the Safa Appeals board. The case was initially dismissed on the basis that proper channels were not followed.

Mikhado then went back to the drawing board and filed the appeal afresh. During its sitting held at the league’s offices two weeks ago, the South African Football Association (Safa) appeals board ruled in favour of Mikhado FC. The Appeals board found that Mulaudzi had a dual registration and that he was registered with another club from Safa Capricorn during the 2016/17 soccer season.

The board again ordered that Home Defenders must forfeit the points to the opponents in all matches where Mulaudzi was fielded and that they must pay all the costs for the appeal board sitting. The Appeals board decision was a bitter pill to swallow for Home Defenders. They immediately prepared the necessary documents and took the matter up for arbitration within 72 hours, as required by the league’s rules and regulations.

The arbitrator made a ruling on the matter on Tuesday this week. The arbitrator ratified the appeals board's decision and again ordered Home Defenders to pay the costs for the appeals board and arbitration sittings. The arbitrators’ decision is binding to both parties in terms of the league’s rules and regulations.

Mikhado will now represent Vhembe Regional Football Association in the provincial play-offs.

Sport - Date: 03 August 2017

Frank Mavhungu

Frank is a Human Resources Manager at the Department of Public Works in Limpopo. He is the longest serving correspondent of the Mirror, having joined us at the end of 1990.  He mainly writes sports reports and resides at Tsianda Village. In 2004, Frank won the National Castle League Award, an award for the best reporter in the SAB league in South Africa.

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