By 
By Chris Dlamini
Allegations of misconduct look set to cost Mbabane Swallows a part of their MTN Premier League champions’ E1 million prize money.
This follows claims that their marshals and those of traditional rivals Mbabane Highlanders caused commotion during the second-round capital city derby match at Somhlolo National Stadium recently.
“There was a fight between the two teams’ marshals upon both teams’ arrival at the stadium, and they both face charges for that,” an impeccable source revealed.
The source said the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) got it from the match officials, and Stadium representatives reported that the teams’ officials clashed and manhandled each other.
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According to the League’s Rules and Regulations, if charged and found guilty by the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Disciplinary Committee (DC), the penalty is nothing less than E30 000 for first-time offenders and double this amount for second-time offenders in the top flight.
This is provided for in Article 38 of the Rules and Regulations, which covers any form of misconduct by fans, players, and teams’ officials alike either before, during, or after the game.
It is clearly stated in Article 38.5.2 that ‘Any club identified by the Referee/Match Commissioner or the Match Coordinator committing any of these offence(s) shall be summarily fined an amount of E30 000 for premier league and E15 000 for NFD by the PLE.
It goes on in Article 38.6 that ‘The DC shall double the fine if a club appears for the second time on similar charges of violence and foreign substance(s) and is found guilty. Further to that, a Club shall lose three (3) points and three (3) goals from their accumulated number of points’.
It could not be established if the two clubs had such charges before this season, especially in their first-round clash. It is common knowledge that such scenes have characterised local football for a while now during games between the big sides, mostly including the security forces.
However, regardless of whether Swallows have been found guilty of such offence before, their title is still safe as they won it with an unassailable five-point gap between them and the runners-up Green Mamba.
It would only be the fine shooting up to E60 000, but the points deduction would have no effect at all. Their rivals, Highlanders who finished sixth and are entitled to E75 000 for that, could end up receiving E50 000 or even E15 000 if they are guilty for the second time under this rule.
A points deduction would also not affect Highlanders as they are four clear of Illovo.
“As you know it’s the end of the season and the PLE usually deducts all monies owed to it from the prizes due to clubs, but we then go and negotiate if the fine is too high to pay at once.
I believe even now the fines will come from our prizes if we are charged and found guilty,” said a source close to one of the two clubs on condition of anonymity.
The organisation’s football manager, Pat Vilakati, said there was nothing much to say for now.
However, he had on national radio affirmed there were teams facing charges and were expected to appear before the DC last Thursday, but due to the ongoing relegation protest case, that has not yet happened.
“Until the relevant clubs get formally charged and receive those charges, we can’t presume anything,” he said.
Vilakati said it was not just Swallows and Highlanders, but even the First Division was affected. He explained that the prosecution was still working on the charges, but currently, their focus was on dealing with the relegation protest by Manzini Wanderers against Denver Sundowns until it was settled.
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Swallows Public Relations Officer (PRO) Knowledge Ngwenya said that while there was nothing formal yet, their legal team would handle it when it comes, especially because they needed money going to the CAF Champions League.
His Highlanders counterpart Kenneth Dlamini said he was not aware of the possible charges.
