Maritzburg United defender Gary Goldstone has been banned and fined for "unsporting behaviour" during his team's Absa Premiership match against Kaizer Chiefs earlier this month.

Goldstone was summoned to appear before a Premier Soccer League (PSL) Disciplinary Committee on Thursday after being yellow-carded for elbowing Chiefs striker Tshepo Bulu — an act which left Bulu having to undergo surgery to repair his damaged nose.

The PSL issued a statement on Thursday night announcing the outcome of the disciplinary hearing involving Goldstone, who was banned for two matches and fined for his act of "serious bodily harm".

Goldstone was also ordered to foot the costs of the DC, as well as being told to issue a "personal apology" to Bulu and Chiefs.

The full PSL statement reads as follows: "The PSL Disciplinary Committee (DC) hearing pertaining to the charge of unsporting behaviour involving Maritzburg United player Mr Gary Goldstone was held at the PSL offices on Thursday, 18 September, 2008.

"Mr Goldstone pleaded guilty as charged, and admitted to committing an act that caused serious bodily harm to Kaizer Chiefs player Mr Tshepo Bulu, in a league match played on Sunday, 14 September at the Chatsworth Stadium in Durban.

"The DC found Mr Goldstone guilty, and issued out the following sentence:

1. Mr Goldstone is banned for two consecutive matches. 2. He received a fine of R50 000, of which R40 000 is suspended for 12 months, whilst R10 000 is payable within 60 days. 3. He must pay for the cost of DC seating. These costs had not as yet been quantified at the time of the completion of the seating. 4. He must issue out a personal apology to Mr Bulu and to Kaizer Chiefs, both of which will be posted on the official PSL and Maritzburg United websites.

"Goldstone and his representative provided no indication of any intentions to lodge an appeal with the league, and therefore the likely matches that he will sit out, as per sentencing above, are as follows:

"Sunday, 28 September: Bloemfontein Celtic v Maritzburg United — Seisa Ramabodu

"Saturday, 4 October: Maritzburg United v AmaZulu — Woodburn Stadium."