05 May 2016

Township Rollers Football Club have filed an application before the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) as the final competent authority to rule on a matter where the club was docked 10 points by the Botswana Premier League (BPL) board of governors recently.

A press release from the club says the executive committee has decided and resolved to invoke Regulation 10.3 of the Botswana Football Association (BFA) Play Rules and Regulations, as read with the Statutory Right of aggrieved parties and in the spirit of Fair Play as espoused by FIFA.

The release says based on such and in the spirit of fairness, the committee has therefore requested BFA and its relevant structures to suspend BPL activities and programme henceforth, pending determination of the matter by CAS. 

“It follows therefore, that the programme for the 2015/2016 season cannot be concluded until this Appeal has been finalised,” reads the release.

It also says the final week (Week 30) cannot proceed, nor can the beMOBILE Premiership trophy be handed over, nor can the 2015/2016 season be closed, pending the determination by CAS on the matter.

Again, the release says BFA’s attention has been drawn to paragraph 28 of the club’s statement of facts filed before CAS on the matter, adding principles of law dictate that failure to comply will constitute Contempt of Court in a matter before CAS.

Further, it says BFA attention was also drawn to the preamble of its constitution as read with the Statutes of FIFA, which clearly outline their rights as affiliates of the game, in affording them opportunity to argue their matter and explore all available avenues of recourse, in an attempt to vindicate their actions.

On aborted disciplinary hearings, the committee says it has finally requested from BFA, to furnish them with critical documents which formed the basis of the BPL disciplinary committee not to hear protests filed by respective clubs Miscellaneous FC, Mochudi Centre Chiefs SC, Police XI FC and Township Rollers recently.

It has also requested that it be furnished with a signed copy of the minutes of the BPL board of governors meeting which took the decision to dock Township Rollers 10 points as well as the signed resolution (by all present) on such decision. The committee also wants explanation of the usurpation of the powers of the BPL DC by the BPL BOG (over a matter which in essence was sub judice) in determination of matters of discipline including but not limited to protests. 

The committee also argues that it follows, in law therefore, that the BPL DC ought to have been discharged before the BPL BOG took the decisions they are purported to have taken.

“We trust you find the above in order and advise that we shall and allow the CAS process to prevail, save as we may be compelled by the circumstances, have no further opinion on the matter until its final conclusion,” the release says. ENDS