Although the world football-governing body, FIFA, had recently lifted the transfer ban imposed on Black Leopards FC, the ghost of the ban continues to haunt the club. The team is likely to forfeit the two points they managed to collect in their first four matches.
Lidoda Duvha played their opening four matches without the prescribed number of five U/23 players because of the ban, prompting their opponents to lodge protests before kick-off. Leopards lost two of their first four matches and drew the other two, going down 3-0 to Casric Stars and 1-0 to Leicester City, while playing to a 2-2 draw with the University of Pretoria FC and a 1-1 draw with Lerumo United.
Although Casric Stars and Leicester City had lodged protests before their matches, they decided not to pursue the matter after winning. The protest lodged by the University of Pretoria was heard on Tuesday, 30 September. Black Leopards pleaded guilty to the charges and were given 14 days to submit mitigating factors, which they did.
The sanction was delivered on Friday, 17 October. The presiding officer ruled in favour of the University of Pretoria FC, ordering the league to award the team three points and three goals for the match. The case relating to the protest lodged by Lerumo United is yet to be heard.
Although Black Leopards pleaded guilty, they described the sanction as a bitter pill to swallow. The club's chairman, Tshifhiwa Thidiela, told this publication that they would not let the matter rest unchallenged. He said they would file an appeal and were ready to take the matter to arbitration if the appeals board did not rule in their favour.