PSL referees under fire as coaches lament officiat...

PSL referees under fire as coaches lament officiating

Philemon Jambaya

ASSISTANT EDITOR

The opening rounds of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League have been marred by controversy surrounding refereeing decisions. Coaches have voiced their discontent with several calls, raising concerns about the quality of officiating in the league.

CAPS United manager, Lloyd Chitembwe blasted the situation, saying: “The problem in our football is that the wrong man always takes centre stage and it has reduced this PSL to a comical show,” Chitembwe said.

He added: “It is unfortunate when week in, week out people are always complaining about poor match officiating. We cannot have referees making stupid decisions if we aspire to be a serious football nation. It is saddening to see the referee taking the centre stage for all the wrong reasons.”

Chicken Inn’s Joey Antipas echoed the frustrations, suggesting referees are holding the league back. “This is disappointing. It was poor officiating from kick-off, we were in trouble. They were just blowing against us,” he said. “The goal they scored went out, but it was waved play on. The PSL is becoming comic because of poor officiating,” Antipas said.

Dynamos manager, Genesis Mangombe finds himself under pressure after a string of controversial decisions went against his side. He vented his frustration in a post-match interview, stating: “Some of the decisions made by the match officials are causing us to lose maximum points,” fumed Mangombe.

“This is the second time this has happened. In my opinion, I thought it was a clear goal, I did not see any infringement. I did not see the offside. Some of these decisions are causing problems for us. We are losing points because of these match officials. Let us not hide this, because it is going on and on.”

Premier Soccer League chairperson Farai Jere defended the referees, maintaining that the quality of officiating has improved.

He highlighted the league’s efforts to enhance refereeing standards. These efforts include reducing the pool of referees and implementing ongoing training programmes.

Jere also urged coaches to utilise established channels for complaints and acknowledged the challenges of making split-second decisions on the field.

“Even in Europe VAR [video assistant referee] is making mistakes,” Jere reminded soccer fans.

The PSL faces a delicate balancing act. Ignoring genuine concerns from coaches could exacerbate tensions, while solely appeasing them might undermine the authority of referees.

Jere’s assertion of improved officiating needs further scrutiny.

Are the coaches’ complaints justified, or has there been a genuine improvement? The answer likely lies somewhere in between. Open communication between league officials, coaches, and referees is critical. Additionally, enhancing referee training and creating a clear system for addressing complaints are essential steps towards a more positive and fair playing environment.

Ultimately, everyone involved in the PSL wants the same thing: a fair and enjoyable game of football. Achieving this requires collaboration from all parties - referees, coaches, players, and fans. Only through collective effort can the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League reach its full potential.