Mamelodi Sundowns will breathe a sigh of relief after the Premier Soccer League disciplinary committee decided to hand down only a R250 000 fine and no points deduction in the case involving defender Wayne Arendse.

Downs were brought before the committee for fielding Arendse after he was not on the initial team sheet handed to the match commissioner. This omission made him ineligible for the match, yet he was nevertheless added to the match day 18 after Thapelo Morena was injured in the warm-up.

The case has been hanging in the balance for almost five months after facing a number of postponements due to Sundowns’ exploits on the continent.

Sundowns’ coach, Pitso Mosimane, has been vocal in recent weeks about the delay, repeatedly stating that he couldn’t say how many points the team have in their effort to pip Orlando Pirates to the Absa Premiership crown.

The news that Sundowns have received a fine of R250 000 with half suspended for the next 12 months, and not a points deduction, will see them remain on 50 points from 27 matches, only three points off Pirates, but with a game in hand.

In addition, Arendse was handed a suspended R50 000 fine.