The Premier Soccer League (PSL) has charged Soweto giants Orlando Pirates for their fans’ pitch invasion during their 22 October MTN8 semi-final victory over Mamelodi Sundowns.
Friday morning, PSL prosecutor Zola Majavu revealed that the football regulatory body has sought to sanction the Buccaneers for their fans’ inappropriate behavior.
“I can confirm that the Orlando Pirates Football Club has been charged for spectator conduct stemming from the pitch invasion during the Mamelodi Sundowns-Orlando Pirates semi-final match,” he said in a statement.
“They will appear in front of the PSL DC on November 14 at 10:30. I shall keep you apprised of subsequent developments in these processes.”
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In recent weeks, Majavu and his crew have dealt with a similar situation, charging the visiting team with security responsibilities as opposed to the hosts, who are typically responsible for security personnel.
From the available video evidence of the events at Peter Mokaba Stadium, it appears that many of the disruptive fans were wearing the colors of Pirates. This may have been the reason why the visiting club was penalized and not the local team Sundowns.
The match itself was a spectacle and will go down in history as one of the greatest MTN8 matchups of all time, and the support both teams received on the day of the match complemented the action on the field.
Following the final whistle, Pirates fans, unable to contain their exuberance, invaded the field in their thousands, bringing dishonor to the league and continuing a trend of unrest in the local game.