Former South Africa football chief who is now an arbiter with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) Raymond Hack says South Africa are wasting their time lodging an appeal for the three points deduction in the world cup qualifiers, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
FIFA deducted three points from their points tally in the world cup qualifiers after finding them guilty of fielding an ineligible player in Teboho Mokoena in their 2-0 win over Lesotho in March. The three points were awarded to Lesotho on a 3-0 scoreline.
South Africa were however handed an opportunity to appeal the verdict, and they confirmed in a statement that they will be taking up that route using the ten days window provided for it. Hack however termed it as a waste of time and resources.
Hack has previously served as SAFA CEO from 2006-2010 and served FIFA in various roles. Most recently, his term as chairman of the Players Status Committee ended in 2021. He was a member of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee from 2008-2016.
“I have never, ever heard of a situation where the appeal board overturned a decision of the Disciplinary [Committee) in regard to an ineligible player… It was an illegal situation. You cannot benefit. That’s the law in any situation,” Hack, currently a chair of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) Disciplinary Committee, told ESPN.
If you did something wrong, you can’t reap the benefits… It’s as simple as that – otherwise, there’s no equity in sport. [Imagine saying]: ‘I took a drug, but I wasn’t caught. Therefore, it’s ok.’ You cannot do that,” he said.
“It certainly won’t drag out. It will be quick. Personally – it’s only my opinion – I doubt it will even be heard on the basis of [the FIFA Appeal Committee deciding]: ‘We’re going to overturn it.’ You can’t overturn an illegal situation.”
He said claims by SAFA that the sanction was handed out by “a single-member panel without reasons, and without affording the Association an opportunity to present legal arguments” was without merit.
“FIFA are entitled to appoint whoever they want. They have a panel of people who sit on the disciplinary committee. The chairperson is entitled to make a judgement on his own. I’ve done that numerous times while I was on the FIFA Disciplinary Committee and it’s up to them to determine,” Hack said.
He said the statement issued by SAFA on their plans to appeal the judgement in ten days was misleading as it makes no mention of the fact that they only have three days to file their initial notice of intent to appeal – albeit with a subsequent window of a week in which to submit full written reasons for it.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
