Middendorp to face sanctions for snubbing media after defeat by Wits

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Ernst Middendorp, coach of Kaizer Chiefs

Ernst Middendorp could be facing charges from the Premier Soccer League following after he skipped post-match commitments with the media following Kaizer Chiefs’ defeat by Bidvest Wits this past weekend.

The Chiefs coach saw his side suffer a major setback in their pursuit of the title as they missed numerous chances before conceding a late goal to miss out on the three points.

Following the game, the Amakhosi coach decided not to attend the mandatory Absa Premiership media conference scheduled for both teams some two hours after their encounter at the FNB Stadium, with only Gavin Hunt availing himself to speak to the media.

In the PSL each team has to attend a compulsory briefing with the broadcasters and journalists before and after the game as per the league’s manual.

Failure to do so will result in big fines as Baroka FC found out earlier this year when assistant coach Thoka Matsimela skipped a conference after a game.

The Baroka assistant coach was standing in for then head coach Wedson Nyirenda against Wits in August when he failed to attend a post-match conference. As a result, both the club and the coach were fined R100,000 each.

The sentence was suspended for two years on condition that they are not found guilty of breaching the media manual in that period.

Chiefs are yet to comment on why Middendorp decided to snub the media after the loss, but PSL spokesperson Luxolo September told SoccerLaduma that the same rules apply to everyone – meaning Middendorp will face charges.

‘I cannot comment specifically on coach Middendorp because I do not have the facts. But the same rules apply to everyone regarding the media manual on match day,’ said September.

This development is yet another distraction as Chiefs desperately try to cling to the top spot with two games remaining.