PSL CEO Siem Angered By Fans Behaviour In MTN8 Semi-FinalPSL (Premier Soccer League) CEO Kjetil Siem has voiced his disappointment and anger at the way fans behaved at Saturday night’s MTN8 first leg semi-final match between Ajax Cape Town and Kaizer Chiefs at Newlands Stadium.
17 Aug 2009 07:00:19
The match was marred by unruly behaviour during the closing stages, with spectators venting their anger by throwing missiles onto the field, potentially causing danger and harm to those on the park.
Disgruntled fans also prevented the match officials from immediately leaving the playing surface once the game had been completed."This is not something we want to see or can accept at our matches.
It is an absolute disgrace not only towards Kaizer Chiefs and Ajax Cape Town as the clubs involved in the match, but to the PSL and our partners. What happened last night could prove disastrous for the whole South African soccer family.
It is against the spirit of play and damages the image of our league, as well our reputation as hosts of the 2010 FIFA World Cup," said Siem.
Siem is also wary of the negative publicity this could generate across all media platforms."In numerous interviews to the international media, I have continuously praised our football fans in this country and underlined how safe visitors should feel when they come to South Africa.
I also said that our fans have a nice attitude and a constant focus of joy and harmony with singing and dancing, and even children and families should feel welcomed and safe at our games.
This type of behaviour we saw last night reminds me of times when the English hooligans were brainless idiots that nearly ruined a whole industry for their country.
I am ashamed," Siem commented in a PSL press release.“With the focus of the international football community on us, we can ill-afford to show the world such disgusting behaviour.”
The Norwegian also praised the brave efforts of PSL general manager Ace Ncobo for his attempts to calm the situation.“Ace took control of the situation by risking his own safety by climbing into the troubled area in the stands to liaise with the fans and try and calm them down after their match.
He succeeded in defusing the situation and I must commend him for that,” added Siem. “I really hope internal action will be taken and this will never be seen in our football again.”
source: http://goal.com/
+ comments + 2 comments
go to jail chips, do not pass fnb and do not collect r200.00. you will be locked in a sudan jail and the key is dropped in the sewrage dam. how can a senior team do such dispeacable deeds. what is Jomo Cosmos and Black Aces supposed to think when an old mdala acts like this. in the light of development i plead with mr majavu to suspend chiefs untill next season. wits has been in the cold and they bounced back, cosmos hasbeen in the cold and bounced back. how about this time we drag old perpetrators into the russian winter. they are deffinately not "love and peace". anyway i see no humanitarian in all this. they have done it again and they will do it again. one time they like mushin and the next time they hate him. If the lost to another coach this would not have happened. this guarantees mushin another contract at chiefs. ajax play very well and have no preasure. they are way down in the cape and have no one hiding in the shadows watching them train. they have easy access to the sea that is known to calm people. mushin is among longest serving coaches and that adds to the recipe.
nxa
fantastic blog.