THE decision by Zifa to have four teams being promoted into PSL while two are relegated leaves the flagship league’s future bleak, according to insiders.

PSL had insisted on two being relegated while the four region champions go for play-offs to come up with two champions that will be promoted.

The league had rejected such a position during a committee set-up to deal with the impasse but on Friday the association announced that such will be the case next season.

As things stand, PSL looks set to allow the dispute go through the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland in anticipation of a favourable outcome.

Sources within PSL, who are avoiding more confrontation with the association, say that position to have 18 teams next season was “not by mutual understanding”.

“The Zimbabwe Football Association Executive Committee hereby informs the football fraternity and the nation that two teams will be relegated from the Premier Soccer League in the just-ended season and four teams will be promoted into the top-flight league for the 2017 season,” Zifa said in announcing the new position.

In that statement, CAPS United chairman Advocate Lewis Uriri who is also the PSL spokesperson, was also said to remain suspended.

And that PSL chief executive Kenny Ndebele has also been referring questions to the suspended Uriri has added more chaos to the situation, a real mess in football that president Philip Chiyangwa is far from resolving.

PSL governors that spoke on anonymity pointed out the challenges faced by the league in 2017.

“The first problem that PSL will face is constitutional. Although a constitution can be amended, the real worry that the clubs have is that what will force them to change the constitution is an impromptu decision from a group of people who could wake up saying something different again. In such a situation, the league ceases to operate under its own constitution as anything from above at whatever time overrules their own law. And if this is allowed to stand without a fight, it will be a dangerous precedent. The league will cease to govern itself under such circumstances,” said one of the governors.

Another governor said: “The sponsors have been watching and one of the biggest sponsor stated their position. What is certain is that in an effort by the Zifa executive to please the bigger electorate from the regions, they are chasing away sponsors.

“It will be a huge dent on our league if we start next season without a sponsor just to please regional and personal interests. This is not for national interests or the interests of a league that has contributed much to the game and given football a different image.”

The issue of logistical challenges was also raised.

“With 18 teams in the league, it also means that they have to rethink the 16 team cup competition in terms of how the format will be like. It also means the calendar for league matches stretches.

“It may mean the league ending end of December or early January. There are CAF competitions and national team games to consider so it will be very difficult. But while that can be worked out, the most worrying situation is getting the sponsors to agree on new terms under the impromptu decisions and set-ups,” said the governor.