Cape Town - The PSL Disciplinary Committee has handed a 12-month ban to Ajax Cape Town's Mabhudi Khenyeza for spitting at an official.
In a statement on the PSL's official website, it announced that the local football league's governing body concluded its investigation involving Khanyeza in an incident which occurred in the Urban Warriors fixture against Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus in April.
Ajax were acquitted of the charges brought against them, but Khenyeza did not escape and was convicted of swearing and spitting at a match official, Zakhele Siwela.
"Today, the PSL DC ruled that:
"Khenyeza is suspended from all football activities under the auspices of the League for a period of 12 (twelve) months (in terms of Rule 50.14.5 of the Rules of the League).
"Khenyeza is ordered to pay costs of the two sittings of 17th and 23rd May 2013, such costs to include the travel costs of the League’s witnesses only for 23rd May 2013," read part of the statement.
According to PSL Prosecutor, Nandé Becker, "We welcome the sentence which is commensurate with the seriousness of the offences with which the player was charged with.
"I hope that the finding and sentence will send a strong message to all football players.
"Football players should be role models to their supporters, especially when matches are televised internationally."
"We believe that there is a fine line that must not be crossed by players in their conduct towards match officials.
"If players and officials want to be respected by match officials, they must at all times show the same type of respect towards such officials, irrespective of any decisions which may have been made against them by the official,” Becker said.
In a statement on the PSL's official website, it announced that the local football league's governing body concluded its investigation involving Khanyeza in an incident which occurred in the Urban Warriors fixture against Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus in April.
Ajax were acquitted of the charges brought against them, but Khenyeza did not escape and was convicted of swearing and spitting at a match official, Zakhele Siwela.
"Today, the PSL DC ruled that:
"Khenyeza is suspended from all football activities under the auspices of the League for a period of 12 (twelve) months (in terms of Rule 50.14.5 of the Rules of the League).
"Khenyeza is ordered to pay costs of the two sittings of 17th and 23rd May 2013, such costs to include the travel costs of the League’s witnesses only for 23rd May 2013," read part of the statement.
According to PSL Prosecutor, Nandé Becker, "We welcome the sentence which is commensurate with the seriousness of the offences with which the player was charged with.
"I hope that the finding and sentence will send a strong message to all football players.
"Football players should be role models to their supporters, especially when matches are televised internationally."
"We believe that there is a fine line that must not be crossed by players in their conduct towards match officials.
"If players and officials want to be respected by match officials, they must at all times show the same type of respect towards such officials, irrespective of any decisions which may have been made against them by the official,” Becker said.