SOCCER — Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) Chairman Polycarp Dlamini has welcomed the suggestion by members of Parliament (MPs) to institute a probe into the growing incidents of violence during football matches in the country.
The legislators recently raised concerns over violent scenes that have been witnessed at some matches and emphasised that such behaviour was unacceptable.
They proposed that a thorough investigation be conducted to unpack the root causes behind the disturbances.
Dlamini said the PLE appreciated the MPs’ initiative, describing it as a step in the right direction towards protecting the integrity of the game and ensuring that football remains safe for supporters.
“We are grateful for the initiative by the MPs as it shows that they are genuinely concerned about football in general,” said Dlamini.
The soft-spoken football administrator noted that violence in football does not only affect the image of the sport, but can also scare away potential sponsors who are crucial for the development of the game.
He further expressed hope that the proposed investigation would go beyond addressing isolated incidents and instead examine the broader challenges facing football in the country.
“With all due respect, one remains optimistic that such an investigation will not be done merely for the sake of formalities, but will genuinely address the issues affecting the sport. These challenges are interconnected, so dealing with only one while ignoring others will not resolve the situation,” he said.
Dlamini added that football authorities and administrators should also be given an opportunity to explain the difficulties they face in running the sport.
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“It is important for the relevant structures and leadership in football to explain what they go through just to keep the sport running. Many club directors dig deep into their own pockets to sustain their teams, which is a huge sacrifice considering that the returns are often very minimal,” he said.
He also highlighted concerns over the high costs of using the country’s main football venue, Somhlolo National Stadium, saying the fees place a heavy burden on clubs.
“While the MPs are doing a lot to improve the sport we also plead with them to assist in negotiating the stadium costs, which are too high for teams. This is a national facility that should also support football development,” he said.
Meanwhile, in an effort to curb violence, the PLE — through the office of the chief executive officer — has announced that supporters found guilty of causing disturbances at matches will face a one-year ban from attending games.
