Kaizer Chiefs chairman Kaizer Motaung has welcomed the sentences handed down to the nine suspects involved in the Moses Mabhida onslaught a year ago.
The Durban Regional Court sentenced nine perpetrators last month, with one Kwezilomo Madiba handed a three-year prison sentence for his gross acts of violence and assault of a security guard.
The other eight suspects were handed suspended sentences, on condition they are not found guilty of similar offenses for the next five-years, while also serving 12 months under correctional supervision, including 16 hours of community service per month for that period.
Motaung has since endorsed this sort of punishment which sets a stern precedent for future perpetrators, to whom he has sent a strong message condemning such behaviour.
"We truly welcome the sentencing of the nine people who were responsible for the injuries to security marshals and damages to property amounting to millions of rands," Motaung said in a club statement.
"We hope this punishment sends a very strong message to all those fans who believe violence is the only answer when results don't go their way.
"Stadiums are and should always be child-and-woman-friendly environments. Families must be able to attend games with no worries of experiencing any violence.
"Barbaric acts of the senseless violence we witnessed in Durban last year endanger the lives of innocent people and cannot be tolerated under any circumstances.
"We once again call on those people involved in the deplorable acts and claim to be football supporters to stop this hooliganism as it takes the game and our society backwards.
"We also urge law enforcement agencies to deal with the perpetrators. Incidents like those that were witnessed last year have no place anywhere in our society."
Amakhosi are set for another Nedbank Cup semi-final showdown amid a turbulent Absa Premiership campaign, when they face Chippa United in Port Elizabeth this Saturday, and Motaung has urged their supporters to mind their behaviour prior to the encounter.
"We call on our supporters to go to the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium and be at their best behaviour. We are playing in a knockout game and fans of the losing side should go home in peace," he noted.