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The BIG Complaint – a lifeline for Jomo Cosmos? A view from the cheap seats

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By Farai Razano Introduction Last week there were reports and discussions in the mainstream media and on social media that Jomo Cosmos FC (“Jomo Cosmos”) had filed a complaint against Hungry Lions FC (“Hungry Lions”) for the fielding of an ineligible player in the National Soccer League (“NSL”) Glad-Africa Championship. Some have claimed that the complaint is somewhat a lifeline for Jomo Cosmos to bounce back into the Glad-Africa Championship. Is that so? What do the NSL rules say about complaints ? In this article I consider the procedural rules regulating complaints and provide my view (from the cheap seats) on the complaint and the applicable rules. Photo - istockphoto - 541980150 A Complaint, not a protest It is important to emphasise, from the onset, that Jomo Cosmos have filed a complaint, not a protest because the procedures and results are not the same.  In terms of rule 52.2, “If a complaint relates to the registration of a Player, the complaint must be lodged no later th
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Training compensation regime in South African football: time for clear and effective regulations that properly incentivise and compensate training clubs.

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Nomfundo Khumalo and Farai Razano Introduction Whenever there is a discussion on the success (or failure) of South African national football teams, the issue of the need for proper youth development structures and programmes always takes centre stage. It is often argued that South African football lacks youth training and development structures necessary for the systematic flow through of football players from youth teams into senior teams. T his is a persistent issue that one would expect the football authorities or regulators, primarily the South African Football Association (“ SAFA ”), to pay attention to and ensure that youth development is encouraged through a training and development compensation regime that incentivises and properly compensates clubs and academies. This article considers the training compensation regime in South African football. It will be argued that SAFA does not have a valid and proper training compensation regime, and there is need for the adoption and imp
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Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
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The ball is mine - The suspension of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association by FIFA

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The ball is mine Many of us who played football on the street as kids will remember that one guy who was not good at the game but owned the ball. Ownership of the ball bestowed many powers on him. He selected his team first, coached both teams, wrote the laws of the game, was the referee and everyone wanted to be his friend. No one had the courage to tell him when he was offside. In modern day football, he would be the Video Assisted Referee ("VAR") as well. The suspension of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (“TTFA”) by the Federation of International Football Associations (“FIFA”) reminds me of that guy who always said, the ball is mine. photo credit - Ben Curtis / AP The TTFA The TTFA was created under the Laws of Trinidad and Tobago by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association Act No. 17 of 1982 (“the TTFA Act”). One of its objectives is to regulate and control the conduct of Football in Trinidad and Tobago under the FIFA system. It is bound by the F
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Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
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Supporters? Really? More like hooligans or criminals. Criminal prosecutions and spectator exclusion notices are the best way forward.

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In this article the Centre Court considers safety at sports events in South Africa . We look at the increase in hooliganism at sports (especially football) events, measures that associations or federations normally take to curb such conduct and statutory measures that are arguably more effective in dealing with hooligans or criminals at sports events. 1 - Lest we forget. On 13 January 1991, 42 football lovers lost their lives at the Oppenheimer Stadium in Orkney at a football match between Orlando Pirates Football Club (“Orlando Pirates”) and Kaizer Chiefs Football Club (“Kaizer Chiefs”). The tragedy is known as the Orkney Disaster . The next tragedy of similar magnitude was the Ellis Park Disaster on 11 April 2001 where 43 people lost their lives at another match between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs at Ellis Park Stadium.  The Commission of Inquiry into the Ellis Park Stadium Soccer Disaster of 11 2001 (commonly referred to as the Ngoepe Commission of Inquiry) was
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Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
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The R123 million lawsuit by Hartem Ben Arfa - a view from the Centre Court.

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In this article the Centre Court considers the  Hartem Ben Arfa   (Ben Arfa) claim from a South African point of view. Can a professional athlete in a team sport bring such a claim and on what basis? If yes, would such a claim succeed? We close off by looking at possible ways to avoid such a situation from both the clubs' and athletes' point over view. 1 - What’s the Ben Arfa lawsuit fuss about? Last week it was reported that Ben Arfa  had lodged a lawsuit   against his former club Paris Saint-Germain FC (“PSG”)  for  £7 million  (about R123 million) allegedly for loss of earnings and “discrimination and workplace harassment” . It is reported that Ben Arfa was entitled to performance bonuses in addition to his basic salary. Following injury woes and alleged bad blood between him and PSG, Ben Arfa spent the last 15 months of his contract on the sidelines training with the reserve side. Reports further say Ben Arfa claims that PSG did everything to crack him and force him
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Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
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