An unresolved protest in the regional league might delay the First Division play-offs that are scheduled to start next week. The outstanding case before the Botswana Football Association (BFA) Disciplinary Committee (DC) is between Kanye United and Mathaithai FC of Moshupa.

Both teams finished on 44 points with United ahead with a goal difference of four. But United were awarded three soft points after Piano Masters failed to honour a fixture. The Southern Region Football Association (SORFA) has ordered United and Mathaithai to go head-to-head at a neutral venue to decide who qualifies for the play-offs. The rules say that no team can qualify through soft points.

Last Sunday, United travelled to Magotlhwane for the match only to learn that their opponents would not turn up because they want to be crowned champions without honouring the fixture.

Apparently the Moshupa side lodged a protest the same Sunday morning. SORFA had a meeting with Mathaithai officials on Monday evening and it was decided that the two teams should play a decider as was initially planned. However, United has lodged a protest with the BFA's DC protesting that their opponents flouted the rules by refusing to honour the failed fixture. United wants the DC to award them the match. The club's owner, Sebonego Sebonego told Mmegi Sport that he was shocked at the way SORFA ignored the rules when making the decision to order a re-play. "They should have punished Mathaithai for flaunting the rules. According to the rules of football, a team plays under protest. It is against the rules for a team to refuse to honour a fixture even if they are not happy," he said.

He said when Mathaithai were called for a hearing on Monday, his club was not invited although it is an interested party. "How on earth do you resolve a matter between two teams while one of them is absent?" he asked.

SORFA' secretary, Willy Okatswa refused to comment on the matter. The association's secretary, Phemelo Sejabosigo was at pains to explain issues surrounding the protests.

While he professed ignorance about Mathaithai's failure to honour the fixture, Sejabosigo acknowledged that his committee met on Monday evening to listen to the team's protest and decided the two teams should play a decider.

"All I can tell you is that Mathaithai lost their appeal to be crowned champions and they have been ordered to play Kanye United.

I cannot say that they failed to honour the fixture or whether they were supposed to play in Magotlhwane because the league committee is the one that choose the venue.

There must have been people who were supposed to take care of that match and I do not have any information on it," Sejabosigo said.

First Division South League Committee chairman, Charles Chilisa said that if the matter drags for too long, it would delay the play-offs.

"I am trying to push the DC to deal with this case as a matter of urgency because we do not want any postponements.

Hopefully, the case would be closed by Friday this week because I want all the teams to be ready next Friday when the play-offs start," he said.