South Africa’s Premier Soccer League Disciplinary Committee found Mamelodi Sundowns and midfielder Gastón Sirino guilty on several charges following a controversial cup tie in 2019.
Sirino had been charged with assault following the MTN8 semifinal second leg at Lucas Moripe Stadium on September 18 where the Uruguayan lashed out at two SuperSport United players, Dean Furman and Clayton Daniels.
The case against Sirino had been pending for months with Sundowns fans anxious about the severity of his punishment.
On Monday, the Committee finally delivered its verdict in a brief statement issued on Monday.
“Mamelodi Sundowns were found guilty of bringing the League in disrepute while Gastón Sirino was found guilty of assaulting two SuperSport United players, Dean Furman and Clayton Daniels,” the statement read in part.
Consequently, Sundowns was fined R200,000 of which R150,000 suspended for 24 months while Sirino was suspended for two matches and ordered to pay a fine of R75,000 of which R25,000 suspended for 24 months.
The portions of the fines suspended remain so on condition that both parties are not found guilty of a similar offence during the period of suspension.
The Committee further ordered both the club and player to pay for the several sittings of the Committee.
Former South African footballer David Kannemeyer criticized the manner in which the Committee handled Sirino’s case saying that it was not fair.
Kannemeyer, who spoke to sports publication Goal, said that the committee took too long to determine the case.
“I think they should act quickly. I don’t know why it takes too long anyway because the footage and the match commissioner’s report are there. It took too long to decide or hand the sentence. I mean this also affects the player who is charged, it leaves you with many questions: where do I stand if it takes too long,” Kannemeyer told Goal.
