Structured finish to Betway Premiership campaign at risk from Sundowns Champions League showdown
Sundowns face a home match in Pretoria this Saturday, securing back to back finals in the tournament provided they do not lose.
Should they advance, the PSL must find innovative ways to wrap up the Betway Premiership by the May 24 cutoff, prior to the 2026 World Cup.
The Champions League final across two legs is scheduled for the weekends of May 15 to 17 and May 24.
The PSL fixtures listed on their official site already exclude Sundowns from the last round on May 23.
However, this violates league regulations requiring all matches in the final two rounds to occur at the same time to prevent any result tampering.
Their planned home game versus Polokwane City, originally set for that day, has shifted to May 3 per the PSL announcement. This results in Sundowns playing Polokwane both home and away within just five days, resembling a mini two legged tie.
As a result, the closing day will feature only seven matches instead of the usual eight.
Yet Sundowns remain scheduled for the second last round against TS Galaxy on May 16, which would need rescheduling if they qualify for the Champions League final.
The sole available slot is May 13, shortly before the opening leg of the final. This setup benefits no one.
Unless the entire second last round shifts to that date, it once more contravenes league guidelines.
Additionally, it harms sponsors and broadcasters, pushing the climax of a captivating title chase into midweek obscurity.
This scenario echoes last season, when Sundowns reached the final and skipped the final league day.
The key distinction is that they had clinched the title comfortably back then, with everything decided early. This year might unfold far differently.
The situation feels chaotic, and the PSL ought to carefully review its future scheduling. European leagues like the Premier League, Bundesliga, or LaLiga do not adjust domestic games for a club in the UEFA Champions League final.
The PSL might argue it depends on CAF scheduling, which can shift unpredictably and lacks firm commitments from the seasons outset.
Ultimately, it risks turning the exciting conclusion of the Betway Premiership race into a lacklustre affair.