PSL Takes Action Against MaMkhize’s Royal AM
Royal AM, a club in the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL), could be facing disciplinary action from the league following reports of missing communication earpieces during their match against Sekhukhune United over the weekend.
Sources suggest that the earpieces were not available for use by the match officials, which led to complaints from Sekhukhune coach Brandon Truter after the game on Saturday. According to PSL regulations, all electronic equipment, including communication sets and substitution boards, must be tested and fully charged before every game. The league also requires 11 match balls and 10 ball retrievers.
Sources suggest that the club media representative, Sthembiso Hlongwane, who was present at the pre-match meeting, was held responsible for the missing communication earpieces.
Royal AMDespite Royal AM’s initial belief that they might have gotten away with it, the match commissioner, Buyile Qubule, made note of the missing communication earpieces on his match report, leaving the club open to facing league consequences for their negligence.
According to league regulations, all 32 clubs in the PSL are responsible for providing fully charged communication earpieces to match referees in their home games, as well as ensuring that substitution boards are available. However, during their match against Sekhukhune United at Chatsworth Stadium over the weekend, the earpieces were reportedly not available to the match officials.
Sekhukhune coach Brandon Truter expressed his frustration during the game, protesting several times to the match referees about the number of calls that he felt went against his team. Despite their complaints, Royal AM won the game through clear goals.
Truter Expressed his frustration:
“I don’t want to comment on the referees, but at one stage they had earpieces when the game started and then they didn’t have earpieces.” “There was no communication between the officials, but everyone can see what is happening. The way things are going, everyone is complaining about referees and something should be done about this.”
During the game, Referee Abongile Tom and his officials were not wearing the earpieces until the match ended. Truter is the second coach to express his frustration with Royal AM’s officiating.