Sanctions see Ajax Cape Town relegated after end of season

Tendai Ndoro
Contrary to Fifa regulations Tendai Ndoro has represented three different clubs in the 2017-2018 season

Ajax Cape Town have been relegated from South Africa's Premiership after the end of the season for fielding an ineligible player.

The South Africa Football Association (Safa) ruledexternal-link that Ajax should forfeit three matches that Zimbabwean Tendai Ndoro appeared in.

Ajax is the third club that Ndoro has played for this season, having also been with Orlando Pirates and Al Faisaly in Saudi Arabia, contrary to Fifa regulations.

The Safa ruling means Ajax drop to 24 points as they lose the seven points they gained in three matches against Platinum Stars, Polokwane and SuperSport United.

Platinum Stars originally finished bottom of the Premiership but the points they gain from Ajax's forfeiture lifts them to 27.

On 18 May Ajax lost a case at the Hight Court in Johannesburg seeking the immediate postponement of the Premiership promotion/relegation play-offs.

The extra points mean Platinum Stars finished second bottom in the Premiership and enter the playoffs.

They take part in a round robin event with Jomo Cosmos and Black Leopards, who finished second and third in South Africa's second tier, with one place available in next season's Premiership.

In January Ndoro scored the final goal in Ajax's 3-1 win over Platinum, a result that has been reversed to earn Platinum a reprieve.

In the other matches Ajax originally drew 1-1 with Polokwane and beat SuperSport United 2-0.

Platinum Stars now have the opportunity to contest in the promotion/relegation playoffs with Jomo Cosmos and Black Leopards, which start on Wednesday.

Ajax have also been fined for a further four matches in which they have fielded Ndoro in.

Ndoro himself has also been suspended for two games by Safa.