Ealier this month Cape Town City announced a massive shirt sponsorship deal with SportPesa.
John Comitis strikes again.
SportPesa are major players internationally and they also sponsor Everton in the English Premier League.
The new sponsor was proudly on display for the first time when the Citizens sealed passage into the MTN8 semifinals with a win over Polokwane City two weeks ago.
But Comitis and his Citizens now find themselves in trouble with the league.
The CTC owner had to fly up to Jozi for a meeting with the PSL on Monday and I think this is a fight we may see go on for some time.
Apparently, according to my sources, the PSL are pissed off that Comitis just went ahead with the sponsorship without getting permission from the league.
And they claim the league is looking to sell exclusive betting rights and are in talks to find a betting partner.
The first reason I totally get, if Comitis didn’t seek permission and if he is supposed to according to the rules, by all means fine them.
But the second one makes me question this whole issue and the integrity of the opposition.
If the league is looking for a betting partner, why can no team sign with a betting company as a sponsor in a deal that’s already on the table?
Also, if City can’t have SportPesa on their shirt because of a betting partner, does that mean Orlando Pirates or Kaizer Chiefs can’t wear their sponsor Vodacom on their shirts during MTN8?
Of course not.
Comitis is wys. I mean the man was on the PSL board for how many years, he literally helped make the rules, so surely he would know if he broke them.
He knows if it goes to the PSL DC, he has all his ducks in a row and based on facts the league have no leg to stand on.
But it could be the start of a very ugly fight.
City are the upstarts in the league and not everyone is a fan of their story and their rise.
They could find life becoming very difficult for them especially with regards to fixtures and scheduling with regards to Caf.