Outraged by a decision from the Premier Soccer League, Cape Town City owner John Comitis has emphatically stated that the league’s administration works for the clubs, not the other way around.
His fury stems from the PSL’s contentious decision to reschedule and complete an abandoned match between SuperSport United and Lamontville Golden Arrows three months after its initial stoppage.
The match in question, a Betway Premiership fixture, was originally halted on February 23, 2025, due to a floodlight failure at Lucas Moripe Stadium.
According to PSL Article 14.16, such a match should have been resumed within 48 hours. However, the league allowed the game to be completed last Thursday, three months after the incident.
Read: Cape Town City to compete in relegation playoffs following SuperSport’s draw with Golden Arrows
The rescheduled match continued from the start of the second half, ending in a 1-1 draw. This result saw SuperSport United leapfrog Cape Town City to finish 14th in the league, pushing City down to 15th position and into the relegation/promotion play-offs.
Cape Town City moved swiftly to lodge a formal objection with the PSL, arguing that the league has violated its own rules. Comitis asserts that the non-adherence to Article 14.16 renders the decision to resume the match null and void.
The club is questioning why SuperSport United was not made to forfeit the three points, especially since they lacked a generator, which could have prevented the abandonment.
Integrity of the PSL
During an interview on Marawa Sports Worldwide powered by Hollywoodbets, Comitis didn’t hold back, hitting out at the very integrity of the league. He emphasized that the final day of the season traditionally sees all teams playing simultaneously to ensure fairness, a principle he believes has been undermined by this decision.
When asked why it took so long for a decision to be made, Comitis attributed it to a “boardroom decision” and expressed frustration that the situation was allowed to escalate.
He stressed the importance of adhering to the rule book, stating, “You’ve got the rules in front of you, we can’t break some of the rules and go ‘okay, let’s just leave it like that and try and see if we get away with it’.”
Conflict of Interest
Comitis also revealed a complete breakdown in communication between Cape Town City and the league administration. He recounted being “palmed off to the prosecutor” when attempting to address the matter, firmly reiterating, “The administration must remember they work for us, the clubs.”
He further expressed concern over a perceived conflict of interest, stating, “The CEO can’t be responding to me about her game against SuperSport. It’s not her fault, we put her there. We put her there, but here we are now.”
Breach of Rules
Robert Marawa, during the interview, also highlighted the explicit nature of PSL Article 14.16, which mandates that an abandoned match should be resumed within 48 hours at an agreed-upon date, time, and venue. He pointed out the significant delay in this case and the implications for the league’s integrity.
Comitis further questioned the fairness of resuming the game from the second half three months later, asking how Golden Arrows could realistically continue with different players, some of whom no longer play for the club, and how yellow cards would be managed.
He argued that the 48-hour rule exists precisely to prevent such complications and ensure the integrity of the competition. The arbitration regarding Cape Town City’s objection is scheduled to be held today at the PSL offices.