Jaure case: PSL accused of bias

The pint-sized defender is facing punishment for his violent conduct towards referee Thabani Bhamala after he had been given marching orders during Dembare’s clash with Highlanders last month.

Though PSL have formally communicated to the player and his team of their decision to arraign him before the disciplinary committee, there is concern about the speed of handling the exercise – which is crucial in guiding selectors of the 2013 Soccer Stars. According to rules, a player who has been brought before a disciplinary hearing and found guilty by the club or the league will not be considered for selection.

However, just being brought before a disciplinary committee hearing does not exclude a player from the selection process if the guilty verdict has not been passed. The technicality therefore means Jaure will be open for selection if his matter is not concluded by end of this month. This is set to raise a storm as PSL are already accused of shielding the player because of his background of belonging to a “big team.”

According to sources, top officials in PSL who are sympathetic to Dynamos are determined to drag the matter beyond the November 23 selection date. “It is utmost favouritism and bias. A competent league administration does not need to take such long in completing a case of one defiant player when such evidence as the referee’s report and a video footage is readily available as in this issue. There is an underhand deliberately causing the delays,” said an inside source from the PSL.

What makes matters worse is that the PSL have already ruled out Highlanders defender Bruce Kangwa, who had good chance of winning the soccer star of the year award. But the PSL’s insistence on the archaic rule of excluding any player who has accrued six yellow cards or more makes him ineligible.