Cape Town Spurs Football Club today confirmed that it has formally lodged an appeal with the South African Football Association (SAFA) against the recent ruling by the National Soccer League (NSL) Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) concerning the contractual status of player Asanele Velebayi.
The DRC, in a decision dated August 9, 2025, declared Mr. Velebayi a free agent. Cape Town Spurs maintains its position regarding the validity of the player’s contract and has initiated the appeal process under NSL regulations. Crucially, invoking Clause 24.4 of the NSL Handbook, the club confirms the DRC’s order is now suspended pending the outcome of the appeal.
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Clause 24.4 states:
"An appeal against an order of the Disciplinary Committee will not suspend the operation of that order pending the finalization of any appeal or arbitration in respect of that order. An appeal against an order of the Dispute Resolution Chamber will suspend the operation of that order pending the finalization of any appeal or arbitration.”
This means Asanele Velebayi remains contracted to Cape Town Spurs while the appeal is heard. The club’s appeal was lodged within the stipulated timeframe under NSL rules.
“We respect the DRC’s process,” stated a spokesperson for Cape Town Spurs. “However, we firmly believe this decision requires review. By operation of Clause 24.4, Mr. Velebayi’s status remains unchanged pending SAFA’s determination. We are exercising our rights to ensure contractual stability is upheld.”
The appeal process will now proceed through SAFA’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms. Should the matter not be resolved at this level, the SAFA Constitution provides for further recourse to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland. Clause 24.4 ensures the suspension of the DRC order continues throughout any subsequent CAS proceedings.
CAS, an independent institution based in Lausanne, Switzerland, is recognized by FIFA and sports bodies worldwide as the ultimate authority for resolving sports-related legal disputes. Its jurisdiction is typically invoked after all internal remedies within a national association have been exhausted.
The club will not be making further comments on the merits of the case while the appeal process is ongoing but reaffirms its commitment to compliance with NSL and SAFA rules.
Photo by Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images
