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Cape Town - Double standards that have emerged in the PSL’s handling of disciplinary matters escalated headlong to new heights last week with the severe sentencing of AmaZulu over crowd misbehaviour at their game against Mamelodi Sundowns at the King Zwelithini Stadium.
It can be argued, the fine of R640 000, with R320 000 suspended, heaped on the KwaZulu-Natal club is in accordance with a refreshing tough line in dealing with crowd violence.
But taken in conjunction with the fine of R250 000, with R200 000 suspended, meted out to Kaizer Chiefs for a similar offence by their supporters, makes AmaZulu's indignation regarding the discrepancies in sentencing quite understandable.
In a nutshell, what the diverse PSL disciplinary decisions entails is for AmaZulu to immediately pay an amount of R320 000 in comparison with the relatively modest R50 000 that was required by Chiefs.
In addition, when Chiefs pleaded guilty to a second outbreak of violence by their supporters at the Nedbank Cup semi-final against Free State Stars at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban and sentenced to play two games behind closed doors, the previous R200 000 fine was benevolently not implemented on the lame basis that the PSL itself was in charge of security at the Moses Mabhida Stadium - even though the prime indictment again concerned violence that, in this instance, reached some of the most serious to manifest itself in South African soccer in recent years.
A security guard was critically beaten at the Durban game, at least 14 others badly injured, with damage to the stadium and TV equipment running into millions.
In the circumstances, it came as no surprise on Monday when AmaZulu spokesperson Brilliant Mkhathini confirmed the club intend taking the matter of their fine on appeal.
But more disturbing, perhaps, is the overall trend of the PSL hierarchy favouring some clubs over others with whom they have a close allegiance.
