Mamelodi Sundowns captain Themba Zwane's yellow card before their MTN8 game against Moroka Swallows raised eyebrows but his actions have also got him and the club in trouble with the PSL.
Zwane received a yellow card before a ball was kicked in Sundowns' MTN8 quarter-finals clash against Swallows, after he delayed the start of the match by leaving the ball in the centre circle and went on with his teammates to perform a traditional dance to greet the supporters.
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The delaying of a match, which Zwane did for three minutes, despite calls to the Sundowns captain by referee Cedric Muvhali to start play, falls under article 55.3.6 of the NSL Handbook on misconduct.
"The following are specifically declared to be acts of misconduct on the part of any person or body falling under the jurisdiction of the League:
"By Member Club or it's Member Official or Players, should any of them commit or fail to take reasonable steps to prevent:
"55.3.6.1 any act having the effect, directly or indirectly, of causing the delay or disruption of a match," the NSL Handbook states.
Zwane and Sundowns have since been charged by the PSL, as they have been summoned to a hearing by PSL DC prosecutor Zola Mojavu in the coming days.
Former referee Victor Hlongwane also confirmed in his review of the game on SABC that official Muvhali made the correct decision to give Zwane the yellow card before the start of the match, as his powers start when he enters the field.
Hlongwane also clarified that 'Mshishi' was not given the yellow card because he was captain of the team but because he was the one who was supposed to start play in the centre circle.
The Brazilians will be next in action when they visit Chippa United in the DStv Premiership clash on Saturday evening.
PSL DC prosecutor Zola Majavu has confirmed that Zwane and Sundowns have been summoned to appear before the League's DC.
"I can confirm that early this morning I preferred charges against Mr. Zwane the captain of Mamelodi Sundowns, as well as Mamelodi Sundowns arising from their encounter in the MTN8 Cup kickoff match, wherein the match was delayed for approximately three minutes," Majavu said in a released audio statement.
"As a result of that misconduct, which is certainly legislated against in the rules of the League, they have been summoned to appear before the PSL DC on the 24th of August at 11 O'clock.
"Once that matter is finalized, I will then come back to give the final update on the outcome," he added.
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