Johannesburg - Black Aces striker Mabhuti Khenyeza has been suspended for six competitive games under the auspices of the Premier Soccer League (PSL), South Africa Football Association (SAFA) have announced on Monday.
The ruling by an independent arbitrator brings to an end the long standing saga involving the player that has dragged on for months.
Khenyeza, while playing for Ajax Cape Town last season, was initially found guilty of swearing and spitting at a linesman, and suspended for 12 months by a PSL disciplinary committee.
The PSL had referred the Khenyeza matter for arbitration on August 29 last year following the decision by the SAFA appeals board to change his earlier punishment from a 12-month ban to a R50 000 fine, half of which was suspended.
The player successfully appealed his sentence to the mother body which reduced his 12-month ban to an effective R25 000 fine.
The PSL in turn appealed against what they termed a light sentence resulting in the latest ruling by an independent arbitrator.
The arbitrator also fined the player R100 000 which is wholly suspended for the current season on condition the player was not found guilty of the same offence during the period of suspension.
Each party will have to pay 50% of the hearing costs as well as the arbitration costs.