Former Premier Soccer League (PSL) Chief Executive Trevor Phillips complained that regular name changes and license buy outs was turning the PSL into a "mumbo-jumbo" league.
In May 2008, this was partially resolved when governing body FIFA stepped in to prevent clubs purchasing licenses to play in a higher league.
[3] In 2002, the league organisers opted to purchase two clubs; Free State Stars (Qwa-Qwa) and Ria Stars (Polokwane) and dissolve them to reduce fixture congestion.
In January 2025, the PSL faced criticism over the poor vetting of owners buying their way into the Premiership.
Royal AM, who had bought their way to the Premiership at the start of the 2021–22 season, had their fixtures suspended after the South African Revenue Service issued a preservation order against the club over unpaid tax debts by owner Shauwn Mkhize, and players salaries went unpaid.