Match officials face the music after errors picked in Sundowns, Chiefs game  

SAFA has suspended match officials after errors were picked in the DStv Premiership clash between Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs earlier this month. 

The showdown took place on Wednesday, 9 August 2023 at Lucas Moripe Stadium. Bafana Ba Style won the game with a 2-1 scoreline. 

Match official Abongile Tom and his assistants Zakhele Siwela and Khamusi Razwimisani have been suspended after SAFA’s referee committee review picked errors. 

SAFA head of referees Abdul Ebrahim confirmed the news in an interview with Radio 2000 on Thursday night. 

MATCH OFFICIALS FACE THE MUSIC 

“I can confirm that there were errors in the Sundowns vs. Chiefs game. They were picked up by our review committee,” said Ebrahim. 

“Action has been taken against those match officials and they’re being rehabilitated.”

Ebrahim went on to reveal that this case is different from the Sekhukhune and Moroka Swallows clash. 

Siyabonga Nkomo and Thamsanqa Sebati are also facing 16 16-week ban after awarding a controversial goal to the Dube Birds in a league clash against Babina Noko at Nee Peter Mokaba on 16 August 2023. Sekhukhune lost the match 2-1 on the day. 

The Maswaiswai goal in the last minutes of the game was the talk of the town. This is after Gabadinho Mhango pushed goalkeeper Badra Sangare into his own net. 

THE REHABILITATION LENGTH NOT LONG 

“But unlike the 16 weeks given to the Swallows vs. Sekhukhune. The length of the rehabilitation for the Sundowns vs. Chiefs match officials is not that long,” he added. 

The lack of understanding of the laws and basics of the game by match officials seems to be a big problem this season. 

Funny enough, we are just three to five games into the new DStv Premiership campaign. However, there are already mounting issues as far as match officiating is concerned in South Africa.

The issue of poor refereeing in the country has since received calls for VAR introduction in the PSL.

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