Safa have vowed to throw the book at the fans who directed vile verbal abuse at Al Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane during his return to South Africa.
Safa have vowed to throw the book at the fans who directed vile verbal abuse at Al Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane during his return to South Africa.
CAPE TOWN – The South African Football Association has vowed to throw the book at the Mamelodi Sundowns fans who verbally abused Al Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane at the end of their Caf Champions League quarter-final match on Saturday.
Mosimane’s Al Ahly eliminated Sundowns from the Champions League after their 1-all draw sealed a famous 3-1 aggregate win for the Egyptians.
“I was a bit emotional when I saw the placards outside and after stepping out of the bus had people swearing me and at my mother,“ Mosimane said after the game against his former club.
“I asked myself what more could I have done to get respect. I understand that it is football but I know the person who did this and who is behind this. I had to move on with my life and there is more but I won’t discuss it.”
On Sunday, Sundowns released a statement condemning the behaviour of the fans. Safa, on the other hand, vowed to take action.
“These individuals have not only humiliated coach Pitso Mosimane, they have brought the name of the country into disrepute and as Safa we will leave no stone unturned in identifying these individuals and hand out harshest of penalty to the perpetrators,’’ CEO Tebogo Motlanthe said in a statement.
“We have requested for an urgent report from the security and police at the stadium and we will also await report from the club. We are treating this matter with the urgency and seriousness it deserves.
“We cannot tolerate this; Mosimane is our proud ambassador and what these people did needs to be condemned by all civilised society,’’ concluded Motlanthe.
