Royal AM were caught celebrating with cash in hand after their victory over Maritzburg United earlier this season but they now have to deal with the consequences.
Videos were trending online of the club hierarchy handing out cash to the team from a brown envelope as a bonus for the victory over the Team of Choice. However, one of the players was seen asking a member of the management not to have cash handed out to them on the pitch.
The PSL has since charged Royal AM for their actions, with a range of charges levelled against the club. PSL prosecutor, Nande Becker confirmed in an interview that the sanctions will be in line with Rule 56 of the National Soccer League handbook.
“The PSL has already pressed charges. The matter is to be heard on the 14th of October. The charges relate to the splashing of cash on the pitch, bringing the League into disrepute, the COVID officer allowing their people to enter the playing area without face masks, the club failing to provide adequate security to ensure that the people other than the players and match officials get onto the demarcated area. They were late coming out of their change room and finally, to add insult to everything, they only provided 10 match balls instead of 11. We view this quite seriously,” Becker said in an interview.
According to Rule 56 of the NSL handbook, Royal AM could face a fine, a warning, forfeit the match or even be docked points.
Many have already called for the team to be punished accordingly by the PSL and we’ll just have to wait and see what becomes of their actions.