/ 29 May 2005

Kaizer Chiefs slapped with lengthy ban

Premier Soccer League champions Kaizer Chiefs were slapped with a lengthy three-year ban by the Confederation of African Football (Caf) on Saturday for refusing to play a Caf Cup match last weekend.

The ban excludes Chiefs from participating in any African club competitions until 2009.

”The CAF interclubs committee met today in Cairo and examined Kaizer Chiefs’ withdrawal in the second round of 16 matches of the Confederation Cup,” Caf said in a statement released on Saturday afternoon.

”The committee decided to apply article 13 of the interclub regulations, which stipulates that ‘apart from the financial sanctions, every club withdrawing from the competition after the establishment of the fixtures will be forbidden from participating in all Caf interclub competitions for three years following its withdrawal’.”

Chiefs chose to play their championship-clinching match against Bloemfontein Celtic instead of taking part in the Caf Cup competition.

”Consequently , Kaizer Chiefs is suspended for three years from participating in Caf interclub competitions, including a fine of $1 500 [R9 840].” — Sapa