The DStv Premier Soccer League has the last laugh in their legal battle with Royal AM founder and owner Shauwn Mkhize. The PSL slapped the flamboyant businesswoman with an R1,6 million fine for bringing players’ winning bonuses onto the pitch after Royal AM’s 3-1 win against Maritzburg United.
Breakdown of the fine
The charges were broken down and allocated to each of the four respondents.
Fines against first respondent Royal AM
The club was fined R500,000 for attempting to reward footballers in cash in front of the media. R250,000 was suspended on the condition that they do not commit the same offence over a specified period.
Royal AM was fined R100,000 for having ten more people than the 60 required for the party and R10,000 for not ensuring their Covid-19 officer performs their duties. The disciplinary committee suspended R75,000
PSL fined the club R5,000 because their players came late from the changing rooms.
The second respondent, Royal AM Covid-19 officer Sthembiso Hlongwane
Sthembiso was fined R10,000 for not ensuring the club’s party wore masks appropriately. PSL suspended the fine, but she will have to pay R180,000 as she received a suspended fine while at Real Kings last year.
The third respondent, Shauwn Mkhize
She admitted having attempted to pay players cash rewards in front of the media and was slapped with an R500,000 wholly suspended fine.
Mkhize was also fined R7,500 for not wearing a mask all the time.
Fourth respondent, Andile Mpisane
PSL fined Andile R500,000, but it suspended the fine on the condition he doesn’t commit the same offence over a specified period.
He was fined R7,500 for not wearing a mask all the time.
The good news for Royal AM
The good news for the Royal Am leadership is they will not pay the total fine as they pleaded guilty and struck a deal with the football governing body. Sources told Savanna News that of the R1,650,000, but PSL suspended R1,350,000 on condition that the club or its management will not commit the same offence for a specified period. Royal AM also agreed to enter the Premier Soccer League disciplinary committee (DC) hearing.