In a disciplinary ruling this week, Premier Soccer League outfit Marumo Gallants have been fined R200,000 for fielding an ineligible player during the 2024/25 Betway Premiership season.
Despite the severity of the violation, the club avoided a points deduction—an outcome many feared could have threatened their top-flight status.
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The PSL Disciplinary Committee found that Gallants had improperly registered midfielder Monde Mphambaniso, who went on to play in over 20 matches throughout the campaign.
The club admitted guilt in Thursday’s hearing, acknowledging that the player’s registration did not meet league requirements – due to a missing clearance certificate.
PSL prosecutor Zola Majavu said in his ruling: “I can confirm that a short while ago, the PSL DC just finalised a disciplinary matter in which I had preferred charges of misconduct against Marumo Gallants Football Club as well as its player, Mr. Monde Mphambaniso.
“This case stemmed from the registration of Mr. Mphambaniso, which was procured by Marumo Gallants without the required clearance certificate in accordance of the rules of the league.
Mindful of the circumstances, the context and the background against which this player was registered, Marumo Gallants pleaded guilty, and in the result, were subsequently convicted as such.
“Coming to the issue of sanction, having listened to the evidence in aggravation as well as the evidence in mitigation and the prevailing contextual background pertaining to this matter, which I must hasten to add that was subjected to a variety of disciplinary proceedings, served before various appeal tribunals, including a recent arbitration which resulted in a directive by the arbitrator that they be charged.
“The PSL DC ruled as follows, one that Marumo Gallants be fined an amount of 200,000 Rands, half of which is immediately payable, and the other half suspended for 24 months, on condition that during the period of suspension they are not found guilty of the same offence again.
Should they reoffend, that suspended portion would be triggered immediately, and they will be further sanctioned for that subsequent misdemeanour.
They were further directed to carry the costs of the DC hearing up until the matter was finalised, which costs would be completed administratively, and then on forwarded to Marum Gallants to pay.
“With regard to the player. The player was found not guilty, and in the result, no sanction was meted out to him. This is the end of this matter for now, unless a party that is aggrieved by this outcome exercises its right to appeal, in which case we will deal with that matter when it arises.”
While speculation mounted over the possibility of the team being docked points for every match Mphambaniso participated in, the committee stopped short of enforcing that punishment.
The complaint was initially raised by Cape Town City FC, who may still consider an appeal despite the PSL’s final ruling. For Marumo Gallants, however, the decision marks the end of a stressful chapter—one that serves as a stern reminder to all clubs about maintaining compliance with league registration protocols.