MASERU — Matlama Football Club could face sanctions from Fifa after the club dragged the Lesotho Football Association (Lefa) to court
last month.
The action could also compromise Lesotho’s relationship with the world football governing body.
Fifa does not allow football disputes from members associations to be taken to the courts of law.
Any such action is perceived as interference and subject to sanctions from the association.
Matlama approached the High Court of Lesotho after they were fined M230 000 by the Vodacom Soccer Spectacular organising committee for their supporters’ unruly behaviour in December.
The committee falls under Lefa.
Matlama have vowed to fight the fine which was imposed on them for bringing the game of football into disrepute.
Last month the club was fined another M150 000 after their supporters threw missiles onto the pitch during the replay of the
Spectacular final against Bantu at Setsoto Stadium.
Matlama won the tournament.
Tse Putsoa were also fined M70 000 after their supporters threw missiles into the stadium during the final of the Vodacom Soccer Spectacular on November 27.
The organising committee also confirmed a M10 000 fine imposed on Matlama during the 2010 Soccer Spectacular.
The rules and regulations of the Vodacom Soccer Spectacular say Matlama have to exhaust all internal avenues before they can approach the courts.
Even after doing so, they still have to go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Both parties were reluctant to comment on the debacle yesterday.
“We don’t have any problems (as Lefa), it is not something that I can talk about,” Lefa spokesman Baba Malephane told the Lesotho
Times yesterday.
“There is nothing that we can talk about at the moment,” Malephane said.
Matlama are set to find out the dates for the case on Monday.
Matlama communications and marketing manager, Lesolle Phalatsi, said he hoped that matter could be resolved without the need of the
courts.
“It is my hope that something will happen; and there is a way to resolve this issue,” Phalatsi said.
Meanwhile, things remain extremely tight at the top of the Vodacom A-Division Southern Stream after leaders Qoaling Highlanders were
held 0-0 at home by bottom side Mabeoana on Saturday.
It means the top five teams are separated by just three points.
In the Northern Stream, Mphatlalatsane maintain a three-point advantage at the top after a 1-0 win over Nyenye Rovers on Sunday.
Sefotha-fotha remain second with 20 points after crushing struggling Butha-Buthe Fast XI 6-0.
