Mohammed Allie BBC Sport, Cape Town

SA football fans are unable to follow the fortunes of their teams on radio

The South African Premier Soccer League and the country's national broadcaster are locked in a bitter dispute over radio commentary rights for PSL matches.

Millions of fans who rely on radio commentaries to follow their teams' fortunes have been stunned by the PSL's decision to revoke the temporary rights granted to the SABC on 10 August.

The SABC was able to cover the opening round of league games of the new season as well as the start of the popular Supa 8 knock-out competition.

But there has been confusion over whether individual clubs or the PSL, as the governing body, hold the radio broadcast rights.

The radio rights issue follows an acrimonious and protracted wrangle over television broadcast rights which were eventually awarded to Pay-TV channel Supersport.

A threat of court action coupled with government intervention resulted in the SABC being granted the right to broadcast 143 games although they had to sub-lease the rights from Supersport.

"Subsequent to that, the PSL instructed that all radio rights would be handled by the league and collectively," SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago said.

"Further to this the SABC learned that the radio rights had reverted back to individual clubs at which point the SABC had not been afforded the opportunity to engage the clubs.

"We will try our level best to make sure we negotiate with the PSL and we are hoping to meet with them soon to try to iron out this matter in the interests of the public."