MASERU — Lioli have appealed against the Premier League’s decision to ban their executive board from all football activities for the next four years.
The Premier League handed down the heavy punishment after finding Lioli guilty on two counts of misconduct stemming from the row over participation in the CAF Champions League.
Lioli had reported the Lesotho Football Association (Lefa) to the Confederation of African Football for refusing to let them take up Lesotho’s berth in the continental club tournament.
This was deemed misconduct on the part of Lesotho’s domestic champions.
The second count arose when Lioli subsequently took the matter to the High Court.
Besides banning Lioli’s board, the Premier League slapped the Teyateyaneng side with a fine of M10 000 payable by April 22.
The Premier League also garnished 15 points from Lioli’s league tally but, however, suspended the penalty unless Tse Nala commit a similar offence before December 31 2012.
Lioli’s suspended board is made up of club president Lebohang Thotanyana, secretary Chaka Chaka as well as communications and marketing manager Moeketsi Pitso.
The club’s administration manager Nthako Majoro has also been banned.
Lioli have, however, appealed against the ban.
“Lioli have appealed the decision,” was all Thotanyana could tell the Lesotho Times yesterday.
Thotanyana was reluctant to comment further on the crisis — the latest to hit Tse Nala at a time the league campaign is entering the final stretch.
Lioli are second in the league, trailing pacesetters Matlama by 10 points although the former have a game in hand.
The club’s officials were set to meet later yesterday to map the way forward.
On Tuesday Lioli representatives held a meeting with Lefa officials.
Lioli are also facing a misconduct charge over the actions of their supporters who attacked referee Paul Phomane soon after Tse Nala’s 3-1 loss to LMPS in a Vodacom Premier League match a fortnight ago.
The case, which was supposed to be heard on Tuesday, has been postponed to next week because Lioli only responded to the charge this week.
Premier League communications and marketing manager Lehlohonolo Matlosa told the Lesotho Times yesterday that Lioli had accepted the charges levelled against them.
“We only got Lioli’s response on Tuesday so we could not proceed with any judgments,” Matlosa said.
“We have called them to a meeting next week (and) they have accepted the charges against them.”
Next Tuesday the Premier League will also decide whether Lioli should play their home games in Teyateyaneng or not.
Last Wednesday, Lioli’s home matches were suspended because of what the league said was a serious lack of security at the defending champions’ home ground.
