Several amendments regarding the National Soccer League (NSL) were deferred for further consultation at a South African Football Association (Safa) extraordinary meeting at Sandton Convention Centre yesterday.
Safa CEO Russell Paul said it was decided that the proposed amendments should be discussed further, in consultation with the NSL, which oversees the Premier Soccer League (PSL) and National First Division, at the Safa-PSL joint liaison committee (JLC).
Amendments included that "all members including associate members and the special member [NSL] shall be subordinate to Safa".
Another proposed that the NSL shall "immediately communicate to Safa its intention to discuss, consider or enter into negotiations with a sponsor or any person or a group of persons for a sponsorship or the raising of funds".
Another stated: "To ensure every sponsorship without exception is negotiated in the best interest of football in the country in consultation with Safa and with the written permission of Safa."
Paul said Safa had decided not enough consultation had been made on the amendments with the NSL.
"The council felt there had been insufficient consultation," he said.
"In October when we met as a JLC we said there needs to be greater cooperation, unity and communication between the parties.
"So the matter's been deferred to a JLC. It may be an expanded JLC, we don't know."
The amendments matched many of the concerns raised by Safa in a statement soon after the NSL raised objections to a refereeing sponsorship signed with OUTsurance by the association in September.
Paul was asked if the amendment proposals were related to that much-documented clash.
"As far as the OUTsurance matter is concerned and as far as any of the other perceived differences between the NSL and Safa, the NSL is a member of Safa. They accept that," he said.
"And again, we agreed that we will resolve our matter behind closed doors. There's no need for us to talk in the media and fight each other.
"I can't comment how we will deal with the matter. We have agreed that we will deal with it in a mature fashion in the best interest of football."
The OUTsurance dispute - where PSL sponsors asked questions about a diminishment of their rights - remains with the JLC.
Paul said a proposal by Safa Cape Town that the NSL be changed from having six votes as a Safa special member to two, in line with an associate member, was withdrawn.
"Everybody has the right to make their proposals, however they see fit," Paul said. "In the spirit of unification and camaraderie, it was felt in the best interest --and by the region - to withdraw it."
He said an amendment proposed by the SA Masters and Legends Football Association that the ex-pros body change from an associate to a special member was also withdrawn.
Safa president Danny Jordaan was not present at the extraordinary meeting as he was in Ghana to watch Banyana Banyana play Nigeria in last evening's Africa Women's Cup of Nations final...