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Mamelodi Sundowns could find themselves in hot water for fielding an “ineligible” player in their 1-1 draw with log leaders Bidvest Wits last Sunday.
The defending league champions could be charged with misconduct for fielding a player who was not on the submitted team sheet.
The Brazilians suffered a blow after losing Thapelo Morena to an injury during warm-up. He was then replaced in the starting line-up by Wayne Arendse, whose name did not appear on the match-day 18.
Morena had to withdraw from the Bafana Bafana team for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Seychelles.
According to article 16.3.2 of the National Soccer League (NSL) handbook, “no player may be added to the team sheet who was not listed on the team sheet that was submitted”.
16.1 Member clubs will submit duly completed team sheets to the referee at least sixty (60) minutes prior to the start of the match.
16.2 The team sheet will record the following information:
16.2.1 The full names of the eleven (11) registered players starting the match;
16.2.2 The full names of the seven (7) substitute registered players who may be utilised during the match;
16.2.3 The full names of the five (5) member club officials entitled to sit on the team bench; and
16.2.4 The full names of the two (2) member club officials entitled to sit on the additional two seats alongside the team bench.
16.3 Changes to the team sheet may be made at any time prior to the start of the match provided that:
16.3.1 The opposing team captain, the referee and the match commissioner are informed; and
16.3.2 No player is added to the team sheet who was not listed on the submitted team sheet.
16.4 If a named substitute enters the field of play instead of a named starting player at the start of the match and the requirements of rule 16.3 are not complied with:
16.4.1 The referee will allow the named substitute to continue the match;
16.4.2 The number of substitutions allowed by the offending team will not be reduced; and
16.4.3 The member club will be charged with misconduct.
16.5 If a player’s name appears on the team sheet he will be deemed, for the purposes of these rules, to have participated in the match except if a member club removes a player’s name from the team sheet before the match.
Surprisingly, the technical team overlooked Mosa Lebusa, who was named on the bench, and called Arendse from the comfort of the team suite.
Premier Soccer League head of media relations Luxolo September was noncommittal when approached by City Press about the issue.
He said the league had forwarded the match commissioner’s report to a prosecutor for a decision.
“We have received the match commissioner’s report and, as is the case on such matters, it will be referred to the league’s prosecutor. He decides on what happens next,” said September.
Sundowns media officer Thulani Thuswa was taken aback by the prospect of his club being charged. He said he was not aware of the matter and promised to investigate further.
A club official told City Press that they expected Sundowns to be charged. The official, who did not want to be identified, said the NSL handbook was clear on this matter.
“If Sundowns is not charged, it means all the home teams can also do it because they have the luxury of having all their players available at the match venue. What this does is that it disadvantages the away team as you can only travel with so many players and you won’t have a chance to change the team,” said the official.
However, a senior match official said there was nothing wrong with what Sundowns did.
The official said there was a provision for a team to alter their team sheet “as long as it is before the match kicks off”.
“That is why some teams travel with 20 players so as to avoid a situation where they are found wanting if something happens to one of their players. I really don’t expect Sundowns to be charged because these things happen.”
