Mpheni Defenders, the team set to face Mamelodi Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup, have responded to allegations of bribing referees made by SAFPU acting president Tebogo Monyai.
A war of words has erupted between Monyai and Mpheni following the allegations that the ABC Motsepe League side’s success is due to them paying match officials.
Monyai was in attendance when Mpheni played to a 1-1 draw against Selwane White Vultures in Elim, Limpopo, on Saturday in a league tie of the SA third-tier.
It is alleged that the match officials on the day made questionable calls which raised eyebrows in favour of Mpheni.
In one instance, the visitors, White Vultures, are said to have scored a winning goal with two minutes to go, but it was ruled offside by the assistant referee. This is despite the referee awarding it as a goal, but he had to change his decision.
MPHENI DEFENDERS HAVE BEEN ROCKED WITH BRIBING REFEREES ACCUSATIONS
Mpheni are the SAFA Limpopo ABC Motsepe League champions for the past two seasons but failed to gain promotion to the Motsepe Foundation Champions after falling short at the National Play-offs.
Monyai says as a union it is their duty to report corruption in football at any level. He says they have escalated the matter to SAFA’s head of refereeing, Abdul Ebrahim.
“As union officials, we are mandated to report any corruption we see in football, and we have evidence about it,” he told FARPost. “So we are required to report it to the federation [SAFA]. So that’s why we are doing this. I witnessed it because I was there.”
NEDBANK CUP LAST 16 SIDE UNFAZED BY REMARKS FROM SAFPU PRESIDENT TEBOGO MONYAI
But Mpheni Defenders General Manager Azwihangwisi Phasha has rubbished the claims made by Monyai.
“If we were doing such things, the club would have been at position one by now. We don’t officiate in football matches; we are just club officials,” Phasha told FARPost.
“Whatever decisions referees take, it’s not our concern. So we don’t understand what Monyai was saying and we are not even familiar with what he is saying.
“But also, it was the first time seeing Tebogo [Monyai] attending our games. I don’t know what the reason was because this is just an amateur league and I don’t think our players have professional contracts.”
Mpheni will travel to Pretoria to face Mamelodi Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup Last 16 at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday afternoon [15:00].
RELATED STORY: Nedbank Cup minnows Mpheni aiming to emulate Dondol’s run
