Roma Boys FC and Others v Lesotho Football Association and Others (CIV/APN 262 of 96) [1996] LSHC 96 (27 September 1996)

C I V / A P N / 2 6 2 / 96 IN T HE H I GH C O U RT OF L E S O T HO In t he m a t t er b e t w e en R O MA B O YS F . C. L I N K OE C I TY F . C. Q A LO CITY F . C. and L E S O T HO F O O T B A LL A S S O C I A T I ON A - D I V I S I ON M A N A G E M E NT C O M M I T T EE Q O A L I NG F L O W E RS F . C. L I J A B A T HO F . C. M A N O N Y A NE F . C. L I V E R P O OL F . C. R . L . M . P O L I CE ( M O H A L E S H O E K) F . C. L I T S ' U K U LU F. C M / S H A D ES F . C. L I O LI F . C. C H E L S EA F . C. Q O A L I NG H I G H L A N D E RS F . C. B O T H A - B O T HE F A ST XI F . C. R O A R I NG L I O NS F . C. R A M O T H A MO L I N O T S 'I F . C. M A S E RU P I R A T ES F . C. M P H A T L A L A T S A NE F . C. 1st A p p l i c a nt 2nd A p p l i c a nt 3rd A p p l i c a nt 1st R e s p o n d e nt 2nd R e s p o n d e nt 3rd R e s p o n d e nt 4th R e s p o n d e nt 5th R e s p o n d e nt 6th R e s p o n d e nt 7th R e s p o n d e nt 8th R e s p o n d e nt 9th R e s p o n d e nt 10th R e s p o n d e nt 11th R e s p o n d e nt 12th R e s p o n d e nt 13th R e s p o n d e nt 14th R e s p o n d e nt 15th R e s p o n d e nt 16th R e s p o n d e nt 1,7th R e s p o n d e nt J U D G M E NT D e l i v e r ed by t he H o n o u r a b le M r. J u s t i ce M . M. R a m o d i b e d i, A c t i ng J u d g e, on the 27th day of S e p t e m b e r, 1 9 9 6. On 19th J u l y, 1996 t he a b o ve m e n t i o n ed A p p l i c a n ts f i l ed an u r g e nt a p p l i c a t i on w i th this H o n o u r a b le C o u rt a s k i ng for a R u le Nisi to the f o l l o w i ng e f f e c t s: (a) t h at 1st R e s p o n d e nt and or 2nd R e s p o n d e nt f o r t h w i th s u s p e nd the A - D i v i s i on p r o g r a m me of f o o t b a ll as a l r e a dy f i x t u r ed p e n d i ng - 2- ( b) t h at t he s a id r e s p o n d e n ts a re p r o h i b i t ed f r om s u b s t i t u t i ng a ny o t h er f o o t b a ll p r o g r a m me of or in a ny w i se c i r c u m v e n t i ng t he s u s p e n s i on at ( a) a b o v e; ( c) t h at t he 3 rd t h r o u gh 1 7 th R e s p o n d e n ts a re r e s t r a i n ed f r om p a r t i c i p a t i ng in a ny f o o t- b a ll a c t i v i t i es m e n t i o n ed at ( a) a b o ve p e n d i ng d e t e r m i n a t i on of t h is u r g e nt a p p l i- c a t i o n; ( d) o r d e r i ng t he r e s p o n d e n ts to s e r ve a nd to f i le t h e ir a n s w e r i ng a f f i d a v i t s, if a n y, b e f o re t he c l o se of o r d i n a ry b u s i n e ss of t he H i gh C o u rt on t he J u ly 1 9 96 f a i l i ng w h i ch t h ey m ay be b a r r ed f r om p r o c e e d i ng f u r t h er w i th t h e ir o p p o s i t i o n; ( e) T h at t he n o r m al r u l es of p r o c e d u re b e f o re t he h o n o u r a b le c o u rt as to t he m a n d a t i ng of l e g al p r a c t i t i o n e r s, t he f i l i ng of r e s o l u t i o ns to s u e, as w e ll as n o t i c es a nd s e r v i ce of p r o c e ss be b e nt to t he e x t e nt n e c e s s a ry to f a c i l i t a te e x p e d i t i o us d i s p o s al of t h is u r g e nt a p p l i c a t i o n; ( f) t h at a l t e r n a t i ve or o t h er r e l i ef be g r a n t ed to t he a p p l i c a n ts as d e e m ed or v i e w ed n e c e s s a ry by t he H i gh C o u r t; ( h) t h at F i r st R e s p o n d e nt p ay c o s ts of t h is a p p l i c a t i on A ND T H AT s u ch c o s ts be on t he a t t o r n ey a nd c l i e nt s c a le on t he g r o u n ds of e x t r e me f r i v o l i ty of o p p o s i t i on h e r e to in as m u ch as t he p r e s c r i b ed f or t he A - D i v i s i on is b e i ng d e l i b e r a t e ly " L e a g u e - s y s t e m" a nd a r r o g a n t ly v i o l a t ed by L E F A: ( i) t h at a t t o r n ey a nd c l i e nt c o s ts a re to c o me i n to p l ay o n ly if t he m a t t er is d e c i d ed by j u d g m e nt of t he c o u r t. - 3- The m a in t h r u st of A p p l i c a n t 's c a se a g a i n st t he f i r st t wo R e s p o n d e n ts is c o n t a i n ed in p a r a g r a ph 19 of t he f o u n d i ng a f f i d a v it of K e v in M a n y e li w ho is t he s e n i or o f f i c i al of F i r st A p p l i c a n t. He s t a t es as f o l l o w s: " 1 9. T he c a se a g a i n st t he a u t o c r a cy and o p p r e s s i on of o ur c l u b s / t e a ms as w e ll as all A - D i v i s i on t e a ms by e x t e n s i on on t he p a rt of M e s s r s. L E FA E x e c u t i ve C o m m i t t ee is t e c h n i c a l ly s u m m a r i z ed as f o l l o w s: ( a) T he p r e s c r i b ed p r o c e d u re fo L E FA to f o l l ow to d e t e r m i ne t he p r o m o t i on a nd r e l e g a t i on of t e a ms in t he A- D i v i s i on in 1 9 95 as w e ll as in 1 9 96 is w h at is c a l l ed " L e a g u e - s y s t e m" a p p e a r i ng in R u l e / R e g u l a t i on 4 ( c) a nd 4 ( d ); ( b) it is n ot a m a t t er of c h o i c e, w i sh and or s u b j e c t i ve w h im on t he p a rt of t he c u r r e nt i n c u m b e n ts of L E FA to c h o o se t he p r o c e d u r e; ( c) By j e t t i s o n i ng and or a b a n d o n i ng t he l e a g ue f o rm of c o m p e t i t i on f or 1 9 95 by d i v i d i ng t he A - D i v i s i on i n to t wo z o n es and t h us m a k i ng it i m p o s s i b le f or all t e a ms to be p i t t ed a g a i n st o ne a n o t h er to d e t e r m i ne f i n al p o s i- t i o ns 1st t h r o u gh to 16th L E FA a c t ed i r r e s p o n s i b l y, w r o n g f u l l y, u n l a w f u l ly a nd in o p en v i o l a t i on of t he L E FA R U L ES A ND R E G U L A T I O NS p u b l i s h ed f or t he c o n t r ol of f o o t b a ll in L e s o t h o; 4 / . .. - 4- (d) Under the autocratically used system of z o n es t h e re is n e i t h er t he t op n or t he b o t t om t e am f r om t he o b j e c t i ve p o i nt of v i ew as t he t wo s t r e a ms h a ve a r t i f i- c i a l ly b e en p r e v e n t ed f r om m u t u al t e s t i ng of t h e ir r e l a t i ve s t r e n g t h s; ( e) t he 1 5 th t e am of z o me A c o u ld e a s i ly h a ve b e a t en in c o m p e t i t i ve p l ay u n d er t he l e a g ue s y s t em a ny or all t he t e a ms 1st to 5 th of z o ne B a nd v i ce v e r sa to g i ve b ut o ne p e r t i n e nt a r g u m e n t; ( f) t he z o n es w e re a r b i t r a r i ly c o n- c e i v ed by L E FA a nd i m p o s ed w i t h o ut a ny p r i or c o n s u l t a t i on and or a g r e e m e nt w i th t he t e a ms in t he d i v i s i o n ;; ( g) L E FA h as no p o w er or r i g ht to do t h at u n d er a ny c o n t r o l l i ng s t a t u te of t he a s s o c i a t i o n. C e r t a i n ly no s t a t u e, law or r u le h as b e en c i t ed by L E FA to a p p l i c a n ts g i v i ng s u ch p o w er or r i g h t; ( h) h a v i ng a r r o g a n t ly i g n o r ed w r i t t en q u e ry of t he v i o l a t i on of t he r u l es on t he p a rt of at l e a st o ne of t h e se a p p l i c a n ts d u r i ng t he c o u r se of t he 1 9 95 p r o g r a m m e, L E FA s h o u ld in n a t u r al j u s t i ce be b a r r ed f r om j e o p a r d i z i ng t he p o s i t i o ns of a ny A - D i v i s i on t e a ms a f t er t he c o n c l u s i on of t he s e p a r a te z o n al c o m p e t i t i o n s; 5 / . .. - 5- ( i) we as t he p r e j u d i c ed t e a ms s u b m it to t he h o n o r a b le c o u rt w i th d ue r e s p e ct a nd in a ll o ur h u m i l i ty t h at t he v i o l a t i on of t he w r i t t en r u l es o u g ht to b e ar L E FA f r om i ts p r e s e nt u n e d i f y- i ng a t t e m p ts a r b i t r a r i ly to d e t e r m i ne p o s i t i o ns 15 a nd or 16 in t he A - D i v i s i on f or 1 9 9 5 ." I o b s e r ve at o n ce t h at a ll t he a l l e g a t i o ns r a i s ed by t he a p p l i c a n ts in t h is a p p l i c a t i on r e m a in u n s u b s t a n t i a t ed to d a t e. T he a n s w e r i ng a f f i d a v it of t he r e s p o n d e n ts is d e p o s ed to by S a l e m a ne P h a f a ne w ho is t he S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r al of F i r st R e s p o n d e n t. He d e n i es a ll t he m a t e r i al a l l e g a t i o ns of t he A p p l i c a n t s. It p r o v es u s e f ul to r e p r o d u ce h is r e p l i es in f u l l. R e g a r d i ng 19 ( c ), ( d) a nd ( e) a b o ve S a l e m a ne P h a f a ne s t a t es in p a r a g r a ph 16 of h is a n s w e r i ng a f f i d a v it : " A p p l i c a n ts a re l a b o u r i ng u n d er a m i s c o n c e p t i on d ue to t h e ir o b v i o us i g n o r a n ce of t he r e g u l a- t i o n s. W h at t h ey do n ot a p p r e c i a te is t h at a l e a g ue s y s t em h as t h r ee f o r m a t s, n a m e ly - ( i) a r o u nd r o b in f o r m at (i i) a z o n al f o r m at ( i i i) a k n o c k - o ut f o r m a t. T he f o r m at to be a d o p t ed f or a ny d i v i s i on is a m a t t er of c h o i ce by F i r st R e s p o n d e n t. A p p l i- c a n ts w o u ld h a ve d o ne t h e m s e l v es a h u ge f a v o ur if t h ey h ad a c q u a i n t ed t h e m s e l v es w i th R e g u l a- t i on 6 of t he L e s o t ho F o o t b a ll A s s o c i a t i on R u l es a nd R e g u l a t i o n s. T h e re w o u ld h a ve b e en no h ue a nd c ry a b o ut t he s u p p o s ed o p p r e s s i o n, a u t o c r a cy a nd i r r e s p o n s i b i l i ty by F i r st R e s p o n d e nt a n d/ i ts S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l .' - 6- As to 19 ( f) a b o ve S a l e m a ne P h a f a ne s t a t e s: " T he z o n al f o r m at f or t he A - D i v i s i on w as n ot a r b i t r a r i ly c o n c e i v ed by F i r st R e s p o n d e n t. It w as as a r e s u lt of r e p r e s e n t a t i o ns m a de by t he c o n c e r n ed c l u bs w h en F i r st R e s p o n d e nt w a n t ed to i m p l e m e nt a r o u nd r o b im f o r m at s i m i l ar to t he P r e m i er L e a g ue s y s t em w h e r e in all c l u bs w e re to be p i t t ed o ne a g a i n st all c l u bs in t h at D i v i s i o n. T he c o n c e r n ed c l u bs p o i n t ed o ut t h at t h ey l a c k ed a d e q u a te f a c i l i- t i e s, s p o n s o r s h ip and l o g i s t i cs to t r a v el a r o u nd t he C o u n t r y. D ue to s e v e re f i n a n c i al c o n s t r a i n ts t h e re w o u ld be all s o r ts of m a t ch d e f a u l t s, n a m e l y, f a i l u re to h o n o ur m a t c h es as f i x t u r e d. A z o n al f o r m at w o u ld be a f ar b e t t er o p t i o n. F i r st R e s p o n d e nt a c c e d ed to t he r e q u e st and d i v i d ed t he s i x t e en A - D i v i s i on c l u bs into t wo z o n es w h i ch t o ok off in F e b r u a ry 1 9 9 5. T he z o n al f o r m at w as a l r e a dy in u se in t he B and C D i v i s i o ns f or p r e c i s e ly t he same c o n s i d e r a t i o n s. A p p l i c a n ts h a ve in f a ct p l a y ed in and p r o g r e s s ed t h r o u gh t h is f o r m at w h i ch is not n o v el is L e s o t ho or t he w o r l d ." T he A p p l i c a n t s' c o m p l a i nt in 19 (g) a b o ve t h at L E FA h as no p o w er or r i g ht to e m p l oy a z o n al f o r m at is m et by S a l e m a ne P h a f a ne w i th r e f e r e n ce to R e g u l a t i on 6 of t he L e s o t ho F o o t b a ll A s s o c i a t i on R u l es and R e g u l a t i o ns 1 9 9 3. R e g a r d i ng 19 ( h) S a l e m a ne P h a f a ne o b s e r v es : "It is s u r p r i s i ng t h at as far b a ck as 1 9 95 t h e re w as an a l l e g ed q u e ry by o ne of t he A p p l i c a n t s. It h as w a i t ed f or t he end of t he S e c o nd y e ar of t he f o r m at b e i ng u s ed to run to C o u rt on a s u p p o s e d ly u r g e nt b a s is to h a ve t he f o r m at d i s c a r d e d ." 7 / . .. - 7- On t he q u e s t i on of p r e j u d i ce in 19 ( i) S a l e m a ne P h a f a ne s t a t e s: " No c l ub is p r e j u d i c e d. L e r o t h o li P o l y t e c h n ic F . C. a nd S w a l l o ws F . C. w e re p r o m o t ed f r om t he A - D i v i s i on i n to t he P r e m i er L e a g ue at t he e nd of t he 1 9 95 f o o t- b a ll s e a s on u s i ng t h is z o n al f o r m a t. So w e re o t h er c l u bs r e l e g a t ed to t he B d i v i s i on f r om t he A - D i v i s i o n. T he t r ue r e a s on f or t he p r e s e nt p r o c e e d i n gs is as f o l l o w s: F i r st a nd S e c o nd A p p l i c a n ts d i s m a l ly p e r f o r m ed in t he g r o u nd d u r i ng 1 9 9 6. T h ey a re at t he b o t t om of t h e ir r e s p e c t i ve z o n e s. In a c c o r- d a n ce w i th t he p r o c e d u re to d e t e r m i ne w h i ch of t he t wo o u g ht to be r e l e g a t ed to t he B - D i v i- s i o n, t h ey h a ve to p l ay e a ch o t h er in w h at is r e f e r r ed to as a p l a y - o ff d i v i d ed i n to t wo l e g s. T he l o s er a u t o m a t i c a l ly g e ts r e l e g a t ed w h i l st t he w i n n er h as to f a ce T h i rd A p p l i c a n t. T h i rd A p p l i c a nt w as a r u n n e r - up to t he w i n n er in t he " B" D i v i s i o n. It h as to p l ay a w i n n er b e t w e en t he t wo F i r st A p p l i c a n ts to d e t e r m i ne w h e t h er or n ot it r e m a i ns in t he B - D i v i s i on or g e ts p r o m o t ed i n to t he A - D i v i s i o n. In a c c o r d a n ce w i th t he a f o r e s a id p r o c e d u re f or p r o m o t i on a nd r e l e g a t i o n, F i r st a nd S e c o nd A p p l i c a n ts c l a s h ed in t he f i r st l eg of t h e ir p l a y - o f f s. F i r st A p p l i c a nt l o st a nd t he p r o s- p e c ts of r e l e g a t i on to t he B - D i v i s i on b e c a me r e a l. On t he e ve of t h e ir c l a sh f or t he S e c o nd l e g, t h e se p r o c e e d i n gs w e re l a u n c h ed in a d e s p e r a te a t t e m pt to s a ve it f r om o b v i o us r e l e g a t i o n. T h e se d e s p e r a te a t t e m p ts at a v o i d- i ng r e l e g a t i on by F i r st A p p l i c a nt in p a r t i c u l ar c o me a f t er it h ad f a i l ed to p e r s u a de F i r st R e s p o n d e nt n ot to r e l e g a te a ny c l ub in t he A- D i v i s i on b ut to i n c r e a se t he n u m b er of c l u bs f r om s i x t e en ( 1 6) to t w e n ty ( 2 0 ). 8 / . .. - 8- In y et a f u r t h er a t t e m pt to s h ow t he f r i v o l i ty of t h e se p r o c e e d i n gs a nd l a ck of c o h e s i on a nd s u p p o s ed c o m m on p u r p o se of t he A p p l i c a n t s, a f t er f i l i ng t h e se p r o c e e d i n gs on 1 9 th J u ly 1 9 9 6, T h i rd A p p l i c a nt w r o te to t he S e c r e t a r y- G e n e r al of t he F i r st R e s p o n d e nt on 2 2 nd J u ly 1 9 96 i n d i c a t i ng t h e ir p r e p a r e d n e ss to go on w i th t he c o m p e t i t i on as s c h e d u l e d. A c o py of t he l e t t er t o g e t h er w i th a f a ir t r a n s l a t i on t h e r e to is h e r e w i th a t t a c h ed a nd m a r k ed L E FA " 1 ". I a t t a ch s i g n i f i c a n ce to t he f a ct t h at t he a p p l i c a n ts h a ve n ot f i l ed a ny r e p l y i ng a f f i d a v i ts in t he m a t t e r. C o n s e q u e n t ly S a l e m a ne P h a f a n e 's a v e r m e n ts in h is a n s w e r i ng a f f i d a v it h a ve r e m a i n ed u n c h a l l e n g e d. M o r e o v er I f i nd t h at t he l a t t er is s u p p o r t ed by R e g u l a t i on 6 of t he L e s o t ho F o o t b a ll A s s o c i a t i on R u l es a nd R e g u l a t i o ns 1 9 93 w h i ch p r o v i d es in p a rt as f o l l o w s: ( a) A ll m a t c h es a nd c o m p e t i t i o ns s h a ll be r un by t he E x e c u t i ve C o m m i t t ee or i ts n o m i n a t ed M a n a g e m e nt C o m m i t t e e s. ( b) A ll m a t c h e s' C o m p e t i t i o ns s h a ll be r un in f o l l o w i ng e i t h er of t he s y s t e m s: ( i) ( i i) In a L e a g ue in w h i ch t e a m s / C l u bs a g a i n st e a ch o t h er t he f i n a l i st d e c l a r ed as a w i n n er f i r s t ly in p o i n ts a nd in g o a ls c a l l ed r o u nd r o b in b e i ng s y s t e m. p l a y i ng In a L e a g ue in w h i ch a g r o u nd of t e a m s/ C l u bs a g a i n st t he f i n a l i st b e i ng as a w i n n er as s s a n ae (sic) f i r s t ly in p o i n ts a nd in g o a l s, c a l l ed t he z o n al W h e n e v er in z o n es m ay be c a l l ed to p l ay a g a i n st w i n n e rs in o t h er z o ne to a f i n al w i n n er c u l m i n a t i ng a r r a n g e m e n t. or r o u nd r o b in in a k n o c k o ut d e t e r m i ne d e c l a r ed s y s t e m. ( i i i) In a k n o c k o ut in w h i ch t e a m s, C l u bs in a p r o c e ss of e l i m i n a t i on p a i r ed a r e, u n t il 9 / . .. - 9- r o u n d. In t he a w i n n er is f o u nd in a f i n al S u ch k n o c k o ut m ay be p l a y ed in t wo l e gs of h o me a nd a w ay b a s i s. e v e nt of e q u a l i ty in p o i n ts a nd g o a ls a f t er t he s e c o nd l eg t he t e a m / c l ub w h i ch s c o re m o st g o a ls w h en a w ay s h a ll be d e c l a r ed t he w i n n e r. In t he e v e nt of e q u a l i ty in p o i n ts a nd g o a ls a nd w h en no t e a m / c l ub h as t he a d v a n t a ge of a w ay g o a ls t he t e a m / c l ub s h a ll be o r d e r ed to t a ke p e n a l ty k i c ks in a c c o r d a n ce w i th F I FA R u l e s. ( c) T he E x e c u t i ve C o m m i t t ee of L e s o t ho F o o t- b a ll A s s o c i a t i on s h a ll d e c i de w h e t h er a ny c o m p e t i t i on s h a ll be f o l l ow ( s i c) a ny of t he s y s t e ms d e s c r i b ed in R u le 6 ." I am s a t i s f i ed t h e r e f o re t h at F i r st R e s p o n d e nt h as p o w er to d e c i de on t he f o r m at to be a d o p t ed by i ts c l u bs a nd t h at t he z o n al f o r m at in q u e s t i on w as n ot o n ly b e en e n g i n e e r ed by t he c l u bs t h e m s e l v es b ut h as a l so b e en in o p e r a t i on w i th f u ll p a r t i c i p a t i on of t he a p p l i c a n ts s i n ce F e b r u a ry 1 9 95 as t he u n c o n t r o v e r t ed v e r s i on of S a l e m a ne P h a f a ne s h o w s. - In my v i ew t h is is a f it c a se w h e re t he c o u rt is e n t i t l ed to a s s u me t he c o r r e c t n e ss of t he v e r s i on of t he R e s p o n d e nt in a c c o r d a n ce w i th t he p r i n c i p le l a id d o wn in P l a s c on - E v a ns P a i n ts v V an R i e b e e ck 1 9 84 ( 3) S . A. 6 23 at 6 3 4. S ee a l so N a t i o n al U n i v e r s i ty of L e s o t ho S t u d e n ts U n i on v N a t i o n al U n i v e r s i ty of L e s o t ho a nd o t h e rs C of A ( C i v) N o. 10 of 1 9 90 ( u n r e p o r t e d) at p . 1 9. I a c c e pt t h e r e f o re t h at t he f i r st t wo a p p l i c a n ts f u l ly p a r t i c i p a t ed in t he z o n al f o r m at of c l u bs s t a r t i ng f r om F e b r u a ry 1 9 95 a nd t h at t h ey " d i s m a l ly p e r f o r m ed in t he g r o u nd d u r i ng 1 9 9 6. T h ey a re at t he b o t t om of t h e ir r e s p e c t i ve z o n e s ." 1 0 / . .. - 1 0- I a c c e pt f u r t h er t h at t he f i r st t wo a p p l i c a n ts h a ve e v en p r o c e e d ed to p l ay e a ch o t h er in a p l ay o ff p u r p o r t e d ly in a c c o r d a n ce w i th t he p r o c e d u re l a id d o wn f or p r o m o t i on a nd r e l e g a t i on w h e re t he " f i r st A p p l i c a nt l o st a nd t he p r o s p e c ts of r e l e g a t i on to t he B - D i v i s i on b e c a me r e a l" ( s ee p a r a g r a ph 16 ( i) of t he A n s w e r i ng a f f i d a v it of S a l e m a ne P h a f a n e ). N or is it d e n i ed t h at on t he e ve of t h e ir c l a sh f or t he s e c o nd l e g, t h e se p r o c e e d i n gs w e re l a u n c h ed in a d e s p e r a te a t t e m pt to s a ve it ( F i r st R e s p o n d e n t) f r om o b v i o us r e l e g a t i o n. I f i nd t h e r e f o re t h at t h is a p p l i c a t i on w as n ot b o na f i d e. T he A p p l i c a n t 's r e al r e m e dy l i es in my v i ew on t he s o c c er p i t c h. In M a s e ru U n i t ed F o o t b a ll C l ub v L e s o t ho S p o r ts C o u n c il a nd o t h e rs 1 9 82 - 84 L LR 1 45 G o l d in AJ e x p r e s s ed a s i m i l ar v i ew a nd I w o u ld w i th r e s p e ct l i ke to a d o pt w h at he s a id at p 1 50 of t h at c a s e :- " S o c c er is a g a me a nd t he r e w a r ds e m a n a te f r om p l a y i n g ." A p p l i c a n t s' f a te t h e r e f o re l i es in t h e ir o wn h a n ds t h r o u gh h a rd w o rk a nd s u c c e ss on t he s o c c er p i t c h. T h is c o u rt w i ll n ot c o me to t h e ir a s s i s t a n ce in t h at r e s p e ct u n l e ss it c an be s h o wn t h at t he d e c i s i on of t he R e s p o n d e n ts w as m a n i f e s t ly w r o n g. T h at is n ot t he c a se h e r e. T he p r i n c i p le t h at c o u r ts of l aw m u st be v e ry s l ow to i n t e r f e re w i th d o m e s t ic t r i b u n a ls is a s o u nd a nd n o b le o ne w h i ch m u st be p r e s e r v ed w h e n e v er t h e re a re no g r o ss i r r e g u l a r i t i es p r e j u d i c i al to t he p a r t i es c o n c e r n ed as in t h is c a s e. W e ll as I s ee it a n y w ay t he q u e s t i on of A p p l i c a n t s' r e l e g a t i on d o es n ot a r i se in t h is a p p l i c a t i o n. C o n s e q u e n t ly it w o u ld be p r e m a t u re f or t h is 1 1 / . .. - 1 1- c o u rt to e x p r e ss a ny f i n d i ng in t h at r e g a rd at t h is s t a g e. T h e re is a l s o. C I V / A P N / 1 9 1 / 96 w h i ch is p e n d i ng b e f o re t h is c o u rt a nd it w o u ld be i m p r o p er to p r e j u d ge it in t h is m a t t e r. T he c a se f or T h i rd R e s p o n d e nt is e v en m o re s t a r t l i n g. It is n ot d e n i ed t h at a f t er f i l i ng t h e se p r o c e e d i n gs T h i rd R e s p o n d e nt w r o te a l e t t er to t he S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r al of t he F i r st R e s p o n d e nt on 2 2 nd J u ly 1 9 96 i n d i c a t i ng i ts p r e p a r e d n e ss to go on w i th t he c o m p e t i t i on as s c h e d u l e d. In my v i ew t he f r i v o l i ty of t h i rd a p p l i c a n t 's a p p l i c a t i on is b e y o nd q u e s t i o n. In all t he c i r c u m s t a n c es of t h is c a se I am s a t i s f i ed t h at t h e re is a b s o l u t e ly no s u b s t a n ce in t he a p p l i c a t i on b e f o re m e. I f i nd t h at t h is a p p l i c a t i on is i n d e ed f r i v o l o us a nd c o n s e- q u e n t ly I h a ve no h e s i t a t i on in d i s m i s s i ng it as s u c h. I t u rn t h en to d e al w i th t he q u e s t i on of c o s t s. M r. N t l h o ki f or t he f i r st a nd s e c o nd r e s p o n d e n ts s u b m i ts t h at t h is is a f it c a se f or an a w a rd of c o s ts on a t t o r n ey a nd c l i e nt s c a le a g a i n st t he A p p l i c a n t s. As I h ad o c c a s i on to o b s e r ve in S e f i k e ng H i gh S c h o ol v M a a ma M a s u p ha C I V / A P N / 7 7 / 96 t he c o u rt h as a d i s c r e t i on in t he m a t t er b ut t h at d i s c r e t i on m u st h o w e v er be e x e r c i s ed j u d i c i a l l y. T he l e a d i ng c a se on t he q u e s t i on of c o s ts on a t t o r n ey a nd c l i e nt s c a le is t h at of N el v W a t e r b e rg L a n d b o u w e rs I ko - O p e r a t i o we V e r e n i g i ng 1 9 46 A . D. 5 97 p er T i n d a ll J A. It is a l so t r i te law t h at as a g e n e r al r u le an a w a rd of a t t o r n ey a nd c l i e nt c o s ts w i ll n ot be l i g h t ly g r a n t ed b ut e a ch c a se m u st be d e c i d ed on i ts o wn m e r i t s. 1 2 / . .. - 1 2- I h a ve a l r e a dy f o u nd t h at t h is a p p l i c a t i on is f r i v o l o us a nd t h at in i t s e lf is s u f f i c i e nt g r o u nd in my j u d g m e nt to w a r r a nt c o s ts on a t t o r n ey a nd c l i e nt s c a le as a m a rk of t he c o u r t 's d i s a p p r o v al of f r i v o l o us c l a i ms b e i ng b r o u g ht to c o u r t. T h e re a re o t h er f a c t o rs w h i ch I h a ve c o n s i d e r ed a d v e r s e ly a g a i n st t he A p p l i c a n ts a nd w h i ch I am s a t i s f i ed w a r r a nt c o s ts on a t t o r n ey a nd c l i e nt s c a le a g a i n st t he A p p l i c a n t s. T h ey a re t h e s e: " ( a) U r g e n cy As i n d i c a t ed a b o ve t h is a p p l i c a t i on w as b r o u g ht by w ay of u r g e n c y. I am s a t i s f i ed h o w e v er t h at if t h e re w as a ny m o d i c um of u r g e n cy at a ll ( in my v i ew t h e re w as n o n e) it w as c e r t a i n ly of t he m a k i ng of t he A p p l i c a n ts t h e m s e l v es f or h a v i ng s l e pt on t h e ir r i g h ts so to s p e a k, s i n ce 1 9 95 w h en t he z o n al f o r m at c o m p l a i n ed of w as f i r st i n t r o d u c ed a nd t h en o n ly t a k i ng l e g al a c t i on w h en t he s h ip w as a l r e a dy s i n k i ng a nd c o u ld perhaps no l o n g er be s a v e d. I a c c o r d i n g ly f i nd t h at by p r o c e e d i ng on an u r g e nt b a s is in t h is m a t t er t he a p p l i c a n ts w e re g u i l ty of a b u se of c o u rt p r o c e s s. ( b) D u p l i c i ty of a c t i o ns In p a r a g r a ph 9 of h is f o u n d i ng a f f i d a v it K e v in M a n y e li r e v e a ls t he f o l l o w i ng s t a r t l i ng i n f o r m a t i o n :- - 1 3- ( a) E x c e pt f or s o me d e v e l o p m e n ts w i th t he p a s s a ge of t i me a nd t he i n c l u- s i on of t he r e st of t he c l u bs in t he A - D i v i s i on of L E FA as r e s p o n- d e n ts in t h is a p p l i c a t i o n, t he t h r u st of t h is a p p l i c a t i on is e x a c t ly t he s a me as t h at of C I V / A P N / 1 9 1 / 96 w h e r e in t h e se t h r ee a p p l i c a n ts a re s u i ng o n ly t he f i r st t wo r e s p o n d e n t s, p r o c e e d i n gs l a u n c h ed as l o ng a go as 3 rd J u n e, 1 9 9 6. ( b) L E FA i g n o r ed t he u r g e n cy of t h at a p p l i c a t i on a nd i ts d ue r e s o l u t i on as p r e s e n t ed f or j u d i c i al i n t e r v e n- t i on so u t t e r ly t h at i n t e n t i on to . o p p o se w as s e r v ed u p on o ur a t t o r n ey of r e c o rd o n ly as l a te as 2 0 th J u ne 1 9 9 6. ( c) T h is l a s s i t u de on t he p a rt of L E FA a nd or i ts h o n o r a b le G e n e r al S e c r e- t a r y, a d v o c a te S. P h a f a n e, o c c u rs d e s p i te t he f a ct t h at s e r v i ce of t he e n t i re a p p l i c a t i on w as e f f e c t ed u p on t h em on 3 rd J u ne 1 9 96 a nd t h at t he u r g e n cy of t he m a t t er w as d i s- c u s s ed b e t w e en m e, o ur c o u n s el a nd t he s a id G e n e r al S e c r e t a ry b e f o r e- h a n d. ( d) To d a t e, 1 0 th J u l y, 1 9 96 L E FA h as n ot b o t h e r ed to s e r ve a nd f i le a n s w e r i ng a f f i d a v i t s, if a n y, in t he m a t t e r, a nd by so d o i ng d i s- p l a y i ng t he d i s d a in or i n d e ed t he c o n t e m pt w i th w h i ch L E FA v i e ws t he r i g h ts of t he a p p l i c a n ts to s e ek u r g e nt d e t e r m i n a t i on of t h is d i s p u t e ." 1 4 / . .. - 1 4- I n d e ed as e a r l i er s t a t ed it is c o m m on c a u se t h at t he s a id C I V / A P N / 1 9 1 / 96 is s t i ll p e n d i ng d e t e r m i n a t i o n. I c o n s i d er t h e r e f o re t h at it w as a b u se of c o u rt p r o c e ss to i n s t i t u te t h is a p p l i c a t i on w h i le C I V / A P N / 1 9 1 / 96 w as l is p e n d e ns in v i ew of t he a p p l i c a n t s' o wn a d m i s i on t h at t he t wo a p p l i c a t i o ns a re " e x a c t ly t he s a m e ." ( c) E x h a u s t i on of d o m e s t ic r e m e d i es I am s a t i s f i ed t h at t he a p p l i c a n ts f a i l ed to e x h a u st d o m e s t ic r e m e d i es w i t h in F i r st R e s p o n d e nt a s s o c i a t i on b e f o re l a u n c h i ng t h e se p r o c e e d i n g s. T he a p p l i c a n ts j u s t i fy t h is a p p l i c a t i on by a l l e g i ng t h at t h e re a re no s u ch r e m e d i es d e s i g n ed to " r e i gn in a nd or c o n t r ol in a ny w ay a u t o c r a c y, o p p r e s- s i on a nd or o p en c o r r u p t i on on t he p a rt of L E FA in t he f o rm of t he E x e c u t i ve C o m m i t t e e" (see p a r a g r a ph 16 of t he f o u n d i ng a f f i d a v it of K e v in M a n y e l i. M r. S e o t s a n y a na f or t he a p p l i c a n ts h as v i g o r o u s ly s u p p o r t ed t h is v e r s i o n. I o b s e r ve h o w e v er t h at t he c o n s t i t u t i on of F i r st R e s p o n d e nt a s s o c i a t i on p r o v i d es f or a g e n e r al c o n f e r e n ce a nd a s p e c i al c o n f e r e n ce (sec. 8) w h e re a p p l i c a n t s' c o m p l a i n ts c o u ld w e ll h a ve b e en a d d r e s s e d. S e c t i on 18 of t he s a id c o n s t i t u t i on p r o v i d es f or A r b i t r a t i on B o a r d. S u b s e c t i o ns ( i i) a nd ( i i i) t h e r e of p r o v i de as f o l l o w s: 1 5 / . .. - 1 5- " ( i i) A ny p a r t i es m ay e l e ct to s u b j e ct t h e m s e l v es to j u r i s d i c t i on of t he B o a rd as f o r um of f i r st i n s t a n c e. ( i i i) In a ll c a s es t he d e c i s i on of t he B o a rd s h a ll be f i n a l ." T h e re is a l so s e c t i on 35 of t he C o n s t i t u t i on of t he F i r st R e s p o n d e nt a s s o c i a t i on w h i ch s i g n i f i c a n t ly p r o v i d es as f o l l o w s: " 3 5. I n t e r p r e t a t i on of t he S t a t u t es T he p a n el of a r b i t r a t o rs a p p o i n t ed by t he E x e c u t i ve C o m m i t t ee s h a ll be t he s o le a u t h o r i ty f or t he i n t e r p r e t a t i on of t h e se S t a t u t es or a ny of t he R u l es a nd R e g u l a- t i o ns i s s u ed u n d er t h em f r om t i me to t i me a nd t h e ir d e c i s i on s h a ll be f i n a l ." As to t he f i n a l i ty of t he A r b i t r a t i on B o a r d 's d e c i s i on I o b s e r ve t h at s e c t i on 18 ( a) ( i) of F i r st R e s p o n d e nt a s s o c i a t i on p r o v i d es as f o l l o w s: " c l u bs a nd m e m b e rs a re n ot p e r m i t t ed to t a ke d i s p u t es to c o u r ts of l aw b ut m u st t h e m s e l v es to a r b i t r a t i o n ." s u b m it W e ll e v en t h o u gh t h is is c l e a r ly an o u s t er c l a u se w h i ch in my v i ew w o u ld n o n e t h e l e ss n ot p r e c l u de t he c o u r t 's p o w er or j u r i s d i c t i on to r e v i ew t he d e c i s i o ns of F i r st R e s p o n d e nt in a p r o p er c a se I f i nd t h at no s u ch c a se h as b e en m a de f or t he c o u r t 's i n t e r v e n t i on h e r e. T h e re is no r e a s on s u g g e s t ed w hy t he A p p l i c a n ts d id n ot r e s o rt to s e c t i on 35 of t he C o n s t i t u- t i on of F i r st R e s p o n d e nt a s s o c i a t i on as a f o r e s a i d. 16/... - 1 6- E v en R e g u l a t i on 23 ( a) ( c) ( e) ( f) of F i r st R e s p o n d e n t 's R e g u l a t i o ns c l e a r ly s h o ws t h at t he A s s o c i a t i on i t s e lf is n ot a b o ve t he l aw a nd it c an a l so be h a u l ed b e f o re t he d i s c i p l i- n a ry c o m m i t t ee f or m i s c o n d u ct s u ch as c o m p l a i n ed of by t he a p p l i c a n t s. T h at r e g u l a t i on r e a ds as f o l l o w s :- " ( a) T he A s s o c i a t i on a nd ( D i s p r o c o) e a ch m e m b er s h a ll a p p o i nt a D i s c i p l i n a ry and p r o t e st C o m m i t t ee ( D i s p r o c o) to d e al w i t h: ( c) a ll p r o t e s t s, c o m p l a i n ts d i s p u t es or o t h er m a t t e rs on b e h a lf o f, or a g a i n st t he A s s o c i a t i o n, a ny a f f i l i a t ed B o d y, C l ub or p e r s o n. ( e) on m i s c o n d u ct b e i ng p r o v ed to t he s a t i s- f a c t i on of t he D i s p r o c o, t he D i s p r o co s h a ll h a ve t he p o w e r. ( f) to s u s p e nd a p e r s o n, t e a m, c l u b. A s s o c i a t i on or m e m b er f r om a ll or a ny s p e c i f ic f o o t- b a l l i ng a c t i v i ty e i t h er p e r m a n e n t ly or f or a s t a t ed p e r i od of t i me or n u m b er of m a t c h e s ." ( d) F a i l u re to m a ke m a t e r i al d i s c l o s u re I am p a r t i c u l a r ly d i s t u r b ed by t he A p p l i c a n t s' g l a r i ng f a i l u re to m a ke m a t e r i al d i s c l o s u re to t he c o u rt of t he f o l l o w i ng f a c t s: ( 1) t h at t he f i r st t wo a p p l i c a n ts h ad a c t u a l ly a l r e a dy c o m p l e t ed t he f i r st leg of t he p l ay o f f s. i m p l i c a t i on t h e r e of t he z o n al f i x- t u re c o m p l a i n ed of h ad a l r e a dy b e en c o m p l e t ed w h en t h is a p p l i c a t i on w as l a u n c h e d. By ( 2) t h at F i r st A p p l i c a nt h ad e v en l o st t he f i r st leg of t he p l ay o f f. 1 7 / . .. - 1 7- ( e) t he s e r i o us a c c u s a t i o ns of a u t o c r a c y, o p p r e s s i on a nd or o p en c o r r u p t i on l e v e l l ed by a p p l i c a n ts a g a i n st F i r st R e s p o n d e nt a nd i ts E x e c u t i ve C o m m i t t e e. I s h o u ld e x p r e ss my r e g r et t h at it h as f a l l en to my l ot to r e a d, l i s t en to a nd c o n s i d er s u ch a b a r r a ge of s e r i o us a c c u s a t i o ns of a u t o c r a r y, o p p r e s s i on a n d / or o p en c o r r u p t i on l e v e l l ed by A p p l i c a n ts a g a i n st F i r st R e s p o n d e nt a nd i ts E x e c u t i ve C o m m i t t ee p a r t i c u l a r ly t he S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r al w ho as t he a p p l i c a n ts t h e m s e l v es c o n f i rm is "a l e g al p r a c t i t i o n er w i th y e a rs of p r i v a te p r a c t i c e" ( s ee p a r a g r a ph 9 ( h) of t he f o u n d i ng a f f i d a v it of K e v in M a n y e l i. T he s a id a l l e g a t i o ns a re of c o u r se d e n i ed a nd as I h a ve e a r l i er s t a t ed 1 h a ve no h e s i t a t i on in a c c e p t i ng t he v e r s i on of t he r e s p o n d e n ts in t he m a t t e r. W h at I f i nd v e ry d i s t u r b i ng a nd t o t a l ly u n a c c e p t a b le is t h at t h e se a l l e g a t i o ns a re c o m p l e t e ly u n s u b s t a n t i a t e d. It is t he c o u r t 's f e e l i ng t h at t he A p p l i c a n t s' c o n d u ct in t h is r e g a rd s h o u ld be d i s c o u r a g ed a nd t he c o u rt c an do so by an a p p r o p r i a te o r d er as to c o s ts e n v i s a g ed h e r e i n. F i r st R e s p o n d e nt c an o n ly be e x p e c t ed to p e r f o rm i ts f u n c t i o ns e f f e c t i v e ly if it is a c c o r d ed d ue r e s p e ct f r ee f r om u n f o u n d ed a c c u s a t i o ns of c o r r u p t i o n. T h at a p p l i es to F i r st R e s p o n d e n t 's o f f i c i a ls as w e l l. In a ll t he c i r c u m s t a n c es of t h is c a se it is my v i ew t h at t he c o u rt m u st s h ow i ts d i s p l e a s u re at t he a t t i t u de of t he a p p l i c a n ts as o u t l i n ed a b o ve by i m p o s i ng an a p p r o p r i a te o r d er of c o s t s. In t he r e s u lt t h e r e f o re t he a p p l i c a t i on is d i s m i s s ed w i th c o s ts to F i r st R e s p o n d e nt o n ly on a t t o r n ey a nd c l i e nt s c a l e. 1 8 / . .. - 1 8- T h e re s h a ll be no o r d er as to c o s ts in r e s p e ct of t he o t h er r e s p o n d e n t s. F or t he a v o i d a n ce of d o u bt and in t he i n t e r e s ts of j u s t i ce t he c o u rt l e a v es t he d o or o p en f or t he A p p l i c a n ts to c o n t e st t he q u e s t i on of t h e ir r e l e g a t i on if a ny and if so a d v i s e d. 1 do so b e c a u se I c o n s i d er t h at r e l e g a t i on is s u ch a d r a s t ic s t ep t h at n e e ds to be f u l ly v e n t i l a t ed b e f o re a d e c i s i on t h e r e on is a r r i v ed a t. M . M. R A M O D I B E DI A C T I NG J U D GE F or A p p l i c a nt : A d v. S e o t s a n y a na F or R e s p o n d e n t: M r. N t l h o ki