The Absa Premiership will be allowed to operate beyond a deadline set for August 31, the South African Football Association (SAFA) announced.
SAFA said that FIFA had written a letter allowing an extension of the completion of the current Premier Soccer League season.
“As such, the association concerned should extend the end date of the ongoing season in the TMS, to reflect the match schedule. This may also require the association to amend the registration periods provided in the TMS,” the letter from FIFA read in part.
SAFA was also given permission to reschedule the start of the 2020/2021 PSL season as the current season, which was suspended in March due to the coronavirus, is yet to resume.
“We are glad with the clarification we got from FIFA and we have already started preparation of the referees. They will arrive at the camp in batches and I want to assure everyone that the match officials will be ready, come 1 August 2020 when the PSL kicks off,” SAFA CEO Tebogo Motlanthe said.
Earlier this month, PSL Chairman Dr. Irvin Khoza confirmed plans to resume the season with the restart date yet to be determined. Gauteng province, South Africa’s COVID-19 epicentre, was selected to host all the teams from the PSL and GladAfrica Championship ahead of a planned resumption of games.
However, the situation in South Africa has deteriorated with the country recording more than 408,000 confirmed cases as of July 23 prompting the government to close down schools again. Some football clubs such as Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United recently confirmed that some players and staff tested positive for COVID-19 but have since recovered.
FIFA’s move will allow SAFA some room to maneouvre under the current situation without having to resort to canceling the season entirely.
