PSL, SAPS to get tough on hooligans
The Premier Soccer League (PSL) held a meeting with high ranking members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) on Wednesday.
The meeting was attended by the PSL Acting CEO, Cambridge Mokanyane, PSL GM of Football, Derek Blanckensee, PSL GM of Safety and Security Phillip Masimong.
During a three-hour meeting, a number of matters were discussed by the two parties. Chief amongst those was the spate of hooliganism by a faction of supporters at football matches two months ago.
After the discussions, Mokanyane said the meeting was the first major step towards ensuring that the PSL and the SAPS work hand in glove to ensure that football spectators who attend PSL matches feel safe.
Mokanyane said: “We had a very productive operational meeting with the leadership of the SAPS. We really wanted to reinforce the commitment between the PSL and SAPS on curbing spectator misbehaviour. SAPS are a very important stakeholder to the PSL. We have adopted a zero tolerance towards hooliganism.”
SAPS Divisional Commissioner Operations Response Services, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela said: “The SAPS and the PSL had extensive discussions on how we are going to manage and combat troublesome spectators at football games. As a country, we have done very well in hosting and managing many major events. We have created a high standard for ourselves. We have a legacy to protect.”
