BFL withdraws charges against Tebogo Sebego

The Botswana Football Federation has dropped the charges against Tebogo Sebego and no costs have been ordered. The decision was communicated to the BFL Disciplinary Committee through a letter signed by Chief Attorney Charles McErick.

In his letter, he said the decision was made after careful deliberation and review of the facts of the charges against Sebago, and he felt it was appropriate to dismiss the charges “in the interests of both parties.”

BFL requested that the Disciplinary Committee take note of their decision and cease all proceedings involving the above allegations. McErick thanked the Committee for their attention to this matter and understood why they had decided to withdraw the charges at this time. They went on to say that they would comply with requests to provide any additional information that might be requested of them.

Sebego faces misconduct charges alleging that he instructed BFL shareholders that the league would not take place until the dispute was resolved, which was allegedly in violation of the BFA Constitution, the BFL Constitution and the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the BFA and the BFL.

“The BFL board, under the leadership of the defendant’s so-called interim chairman, disregarded BFA regulations and suspended league activities despite repeated warnings from the BFA … in gross violation of the constitution,” Sebago’s charge sheet reads.

According to sources, during his appearance before the BFL DC on Tuesday, Sebego had questioned whether they had jurisdiction over him. He told the BFL DC that the articles he was accused of were targeting players, clubs and officials, and he was not among them.

He also questioned whether the BFL DC has jurisdiction to oversee matters that have already been decided by higher bodies, namely the BFA DC and the BFA Appeals Committee, both of which have acquitted Sebego.

In response to Sebago’s initial submissions, the BFL Chief Prosecutor requested the BFL DC to give him time to investigate the points raised and decide whether the hearing should proceed.

“All this is made up out of nothing. They were just some tricks and strategies to make me lose the presidency. I have withdrawn from the race and they have achieved what they wanted, congratulations to them!” Sebego said in an interview.