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JOHANNESBURG, March 18 (Reuters) - South African club Orlando Pirates have received a suspended fine after one of their fans threw porridge at a referee, the country’s Premier Soccer League said on Friday.

The Soweto club, among the front runners for the league title this season, were hit with a suspended 50,000 rand ($7,106) fine after pleading guilty to a charge of spectator misbehaviour and bringing the game into disrepute.

A supporter hurled a handful of stodgy porridge, which South Africans commonly eat with most meals, at the referee at the end of a comfortable away win for the Pirates in Durban in January.

In October last year, arch rivals Kaizer Chiefs were handed a suspended 500,000 rand ($71,060) fine after angry fans threw two plastic vuvuzelas and a cabbage on to the pitch during a cup tie to protest about refereeing decisions.

The throwing of missiles by frustrated fans was a major problem in South African soccer for some time but has almost disappeared in recent years.

(Reporting by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Martyn Herman) To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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JOHANNESBURG, Feb 18 (Reuters) - South African premier league leaders Orlando Pirates face possible sanctions and a heavy fine after a fan threw porridge at a match official at a match in Durban last month.

The Pirates are being charged with spectator misbehaviour and bringing the game into disrepute after one of their supporters lobbed a handful of stodgy porridge, which South Africans commonly eat with most meals, at the referee.

The incident came at the end of a comfortable away win for the Pirates.

In October last year, arch rivals Kaizer Chiefs were handed a suspended 500,000 rand ($72,630) fine after angry fans threw two plastic vuvuzelas and a cabbage onto the pitch during a cup tie to protest refereeing decisions.

The throwing of missiles onto the field by frustrated fans was a major problem in South African soccer for some time but has almost disappeared in recent years.

($1 = 6.884 South African rand)

(Reporting by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by John O’Brien; To comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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