Black Leopards maintain that they were unfairly treated during the battle for relegation playoffs as the legal battle rages on.
THE acrimonious legal wrangling between the Black Leopards and Premier Soccer League rages on after the governing body bypassed the usual route of the League’s Disciplinary Committee and escalating their case to arbitration.
Lidoda Duvha have requested a replay of their first four fixtures in the 2025/26 Motsepe Foundation Championship, which were riddled with controversy.
At the commencement of the 2025/26 season, there were concerns that a FIFA ban could impact Leopards due to their acquisition of All Stars’ league status.
All Stars were reportedly facing sanctions from FIFA, and this situation extended to Leopards after the purchase.
Before FIFA could issue a ruling, the PSL allegedly withheld registration cards for Leopards’ new signings.
This was particularly significant in their first match against Casric Stars, where Leopards claimed they were unfairly treated. Without access to a full squad, the team was forced to field outfield player Thendo Makumela as a makeshift goalkeeper.
The controversy persisted through Leopards’ first four matches of the season.
In one instance, they were unable to meet the MFC’s requirement to field a certain number of Under-23 players, leading to matches being reportedly played under protest.
An arbitration hearing was held to address Leopards’ grievances but the lengthy hearing concluded without a verdict.
As of now, the arbitration panel is still deliberating, and no specific time frame has been provided for when a ruling will be delivered.
Should the arbitration panel rule in favour of Leopards, the consequences could be significant, potentially altering the standings on the final Motsepe Foundation Championship log.
If the arbitration panel grants them the opportunity to replay their first four fixtures, Leopards could still have a chance to survive relegation.
The outcome of this case remains highly anticipated, as it could reshape the relegation picture and have broader implications for the league’s administration.