Relegated Motsepe Foundation Championship side Black Leopards are hoping to overturn their relegation after taking their dispute to SAFA arbitration, according to Limpopo Chronicle.
The Limpopo outfit is seeking an order for four league matches to be replayed after claiming they were forced to compete without a full squad during the opening stages of the season.
The controversy began when the registration cards of several new signings were withdrawn by the League amid uncertainty surrounding an alleged FIFA ban. Leopards maintain that the club was not under any FIFA sanction at the time.
As a result, Liḓoḓa Ḓuvha played their opening fixture against Casric Stars with only nine players, including an outfield player deployed as goalkeeper, before suffering a 3-0 defeat.
The club also faced challenges in subsequent matches against University of Pretoria and Leruma Lions, where they allegedly failed to meet the required under-23 player quota and again had to use an outfield player in goal.
Leopards finished 15th on the Motsepe Foundation Championship table and were relegated to the SAFA ABC Motsepe League at the end of the campaign.
According Limpopo Chronicle the club’s protest was initially dismissed by the PSL Dispute Resolution Chamber before Leopards escalated the matter to SAFA arbitration. The club has now enlisted prominent advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi as they continue their bid to retain their professional status.
