Zifa Referees Committee takes action amid officiat...

Zifa Referees Committee takes action amid officiating scrutiny

Philemon Jambaya

ASSISTANT EDITOR

In the midst of mounting criticism over questionable officiating in Premier Soccer League matches, the Zimbabwe Football Association Referees Committee has taken decisive action, suspending three referees for poor performance during the current season.

Nomore Matemera, chairman of the Zifa Referees Committee, disclosed the disciplinary measures in response to queries regarding the committee’s efforts to address officiating concerns.

“Of course, our referees make a lot of mistakes,” Matemera acknowledged.

“We have played 45 matches in the league so far, and in three or four of those matches, we felt referees influenced the outcome. We have taken action and suspended those referees.”

Matemera refrained from disclosing the identities of the suspended referees but emphasised the committee’s commitment to accountability.

However, he defended the officiating team of the FC Platinum-CAPS United match, which was marred by a pitch invasion and subsequent abandonment due to fan protests against the referee’s decisions.

Matemera asserted that the referees’ decisions were correctly applied and attributed the backlash to a lack of understanding among stakeholders, including supporters, players, and coaches.

In light of recurring conflicts between referees and coaches, Matemera urged the Premier Soccer League to organise refresher courses for coaches, aimed at enhancing their comprehension of the updated laws of the game. Such initiatives, he believes, could mitigate tensions and foster mutual respect between officials and team staff.