SAfrican league to investigate riot, guard out of hospital

JOHANNESBURG (AP) - The chairman of South Africa's Premier Soccer League has promised a full investigation into the stadium riot that left 18 people hurt, one of them a security guard who suffered head injuries after being attacked on the field by a mob of fans.

PSL chairman Irvin Khoza said Monday the security guard, who he identified as 32-year-old Sabela Maziba, has been released from the hospital after being hit with plastic chairs and kicked twice in the head.

Fans of Kaizer Chiefs set the stands on fire, invaded the pitch and attacked security officials following a 2-0 loss to Free State Stars at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday.

Two people were arrested, according to police, who promised more arrests.

Khoza said that Kaizer Chiefs were facing disciplinary procedures but didn't speculate on what the punishment might be.

The team is already under a warning after being fined $20,000 earlier this month for fans throwing objects onto the field during a previous game. The league suspended $16,000 of that fine for two years but is now under pressure to hand out a stricter sanction.

Khoza added that security plans would be reviewed after fans outnumbered officials before riot police arrived and both teams were forced to run to the tunnel for safety.

Kaizer Chiefs coach Steve Komphela resigned as a result of the riot, saying he didn't want him and his team's struggles to be the catalyst for violence.