Mikia Kalati
PREMIER League chairperson and Bantu president John Leuta says his team will accept punishment from the league after its supporters attacked match commissioner, Moeketsi Moholobela during last Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Kick4Life.
Leuta said he would recuse himself to allow the league to make its decision without his influence.
“I am very clear on how this matter should be handled and I will excuse myself once what happened in the match between Bantu and Kick4Life is put on the agenda,” Leuta said.
“Our stand point as the league is very clear when it comes to such matters and we have a brand to protect. It will only be fair that I allow my colleagues to come with the punishment in my absence and also accept whatever they decide.”
The premier league boss said violence would not be tolerated in football as it damaged the brands of Bantu as well as the premier league.
“What took place at LCS Ground on Saturday after the match is very bad for the game in our country. It does not matter how it all started and we will not tolerate hooliganism in our football.
“This is why as the leader of the club I would like to apologise to the football fraternity and our sponsors for incidents that took place after that match,” he said.
Leuta said Bantu management were carefully studying video footage of the match and would ensure action would be taken against people that brought the club and the league into disrepute.
He said they had a responsibility to protect the brand of their sponsors and would have to come hard on the individuals that attacked the match commissioner.
“We have a duty to protect our sponsors. That’s why we have to come up with severe punishment to make sure this does not happen again,” Leuta said.
“We have done it before where such supporters were banned from attending matches so this is still an option though we will wait and see what the premier league decides.”
“As Bantu, we will definitely take action once all our investigations have been completed,” he said.
