Velebayi To Join Chiefs This Week After PSL DRC Ruling
Asanele Velebayi is set to join Kaizer Chiefs this Wednesday after winning his case against Spurs, Sportswire has learned.
The PSL DRC (Dispute Resolution Chamber) delivered its ruling following a virtual hearing last Monday, declaring Velebayi a free agent.
The 13-page ruling dismissed Spurs’ counter-application and made no order as to costs.
Spurs had argued that they were entitled to a transfer fee for Velebayi, claiming he still had a valid contract with the club despite their relegation to the ABC Motsepe Regional League.
The club even went so far as to value Velebayi at R10 million, suggesting Chiefs would have to pay that amount to sign him. They also claimed that another player, Luke Baartman, who is also a target for Chiefs, was worth more. However, it seems Spurs will not receive a fee for Baartman either, as his case is similar to Velebayi’s.
Baartman also took Spurs to the PSL DRC, and while a ruling has not yet been delivered, it is expected to be in his favor. The same is likely true for Liam Bern, who is currently with AmaZulu.
Bern had been waiting for the outcome of Velebayi’s case before pursuing his own matter, but he is now also expected to be released for free. AmaZulu’s president, Sandile Zungu, confirmed that the club could not register Bern until his matter was resolved, and it remains to be seen what steps the club will take.
Spurs is in this position after being relegated from the Motsepe Foundation Championship last season.
The PSL rule states that when a club is relegated from either the Betway Premiership or the Motsepe Foundation Championship, its players are automatically declared free agents, a rule that Spurs was contesting.
Following the ruling, Spurs CEO Alexi Efstathiou told Sportswire that they would “indulge with our legal team.”
He added, “I told you this would happen [the matter going against the club]. I have been in the game for a long time,” despite having been advised by many that they would not win the case at the PSL DRC.
It will be interesting to see what measures Spurs take next to challenge the ruling.
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[…] also sought transfer fees for Velebayi and Baartman, but both players won their cases at the DRC, which allowed them to be signed by […]
[…] their cases, the PSL DRC applied its rules by declaring them free agents—Chiefs quickly signed Velebayi and Baartman. However, Spurs’ appeal to the SAFA Appeals Board has blocked Chiefs from […]