Two SAFA match officials have been suspended for testifying against their fellow referee in a disciplinary case.
The two match officials, Kurula Chabani and Elvis Munyai, were placed on suspension by SAFA Vhembe in Limpopo for what they say were clear violations of SAFA Uniform rules.
This comes after the match officials involved in the SAFA lower leagues turned witnesses against their colleague.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SUSPENDED MATCH OFFICIALS IN THE SAFA VHEMBE REGION?
It is said that the DC comes after a recent SAFA Men’s Regional League match in the region was abandoned after Makhitha Oscar Stars left the pitch. They were subsequently summoned before a DC.
The regional structure summoned the club alongside match day referee Austine Chauke. Stars were playing against Ramantsha Blackpool.
But to the DC’s surprise, Makhitha Stars showed up with the two assistant referees as witnesses. This prompted SAFA in Vhembe to immediately suspend the officials.
“Kindly be informed that we have suspended the below-listed referees with immediate effect for clear violations of SAFA Uniform rules, SAFA Disciplinary Code and or Referees Code of ethics,” reads a circular by the football motherbody to all its members in the region.
HEAD OF REFEREES EPHRAIM SINGO EXPLAINS WHY REFEREES VIOLATED UNIFORM RULES
FARPost also reached out to the head of referees in Limpopo, Ephraim Singo, to seek clarity on the matter.
“The two were suspended because they testified against fellow referees. It’s a DC concern because they were assigned by the league to go officiate for a match,” he explained to this publication.
“So if they are to be summoned, it must be by the league. In this case, they were summoned by the offending team to support them on their evidence.”
Meanwhile, SAFA Vhembe has also suspended three other referees after they appeared to officiate in one of the Easter Tournaments without the knowledge of the association. The region is home to Venda FC and former Betway Premiership side Black Leopards.
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