TS Galaxy Queens found guilty but matches to be replayed after plea agreement

In a ruling seen by the public broadcaster, the Mpumalanga outfit pleaded guilty to the two charges:

• failing to secure a venue and causing the abandonment of a match;
• failing to attend a match.

TS Galaxy Queens were sanctioned as follows by the SAFA DC:

•    Fined R10 000.00 for each match (amounting to R20.000.00) and ordered to pay the costs of the two DC hearings – each R2.500.00 (R5000.00 in total).

•    The two fixtures, vs City Lads Ladies as well as vs the University of the Western Cape (UWC) to be replayed on a date to be determined by SAFA. The games were originally scheduled to be played on 18 August 2024 and 20 July 2024 respectively,

•    On the matter involving City Lads Ladies, the match will be replayed at TS Galaxy Queens home venue or any other suitable home venue they may choose, while the UWC clash will be hosted by Capetonians as per the original fixture.

•    TS Galaxy Queens has also been ordered to pay the costs of the two fixtures, limited to what would amount to ordinary expenses.

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The Rockets entered into a Plea and Sanction Agreement, giving them a lesser charge, and will now replay the games rather than lose all six points.

In the first incident involving UWC, the Rockets failed to arrive on time for the 20 July 2024 fixture at the UWC Stadium in Cape Town, citing delayed flights. At the time, SAFA issued the following communique on their socials:

“TS Galaxy Queens failed to arrive on time for their match against UWC. UWC honoured the match and took to the pitch. Therefore, the match is declared as a walkover. UWC will receive three points from this encounter,” said the communique.

Now it remains to be seen how this matter will play out, as the match will now have to be replayed as per the SAFA DC hearing ruling.

In the second case, TS Galaxy Queens were to host the visiting City Lads Ladies from Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape at the UJ Soccer Stadium in Soweto. However upon arrival at the venue, it was found that the venue was not secured and therefore the match, which was to be broadcast live on SABC, could not proceed.

The news will most likely not sit well with both City Lads Ladies and UWC who are in need of maximum points for different reasons.

The Eastern Cape side is trying to escape from the relegation zone while the students are in a two-horse race for the 2024 league title against reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies.

According to the competition rules, however, both City Lads Ladies and UWC have the right to appeal – but have to act within a stipulated time of 72 hours of receiving the judgement. The letters were handed out on Thursday, 19 September according SAFA.

The SAFA Competitions Department is yet to issue the dates for the replay.