SAFA Limpopo has taken a firm stance against football violence, expelling ABC Motsepe League outfit Phalaborwa United following a referee assault incident.
The decisive decision stems from the chaos that erupted during a Nedbank Cup provincial qualifier between Vondwe XI Bullets and Phalaborwa United on the weekend of 12-13 September 2026 at Makhado Showground.
The Nedbank Cup qualifiers feature amateur clubs battling for a place in the Last 32 stage, where eight SAFA teams are paired with eight clubs from the Motsepe Foundation Championship and all 16 Betway Premiership sides.
WHAT TRANSPIRED IN THE MATCH BETWEEN VONDWE XI BULLETS AND PHALABORWA UNITED
As FARPost reported last month, trouble began with roughly 10 minutes remaining on the clock, with the score still deadlocked at 0-0. The referee initially awarded a late penalty to Vondwe XI Bullets.
However, after brief deliberations with his assistant officials, the referee overturned the decision and awarded a free kick outside the penalty box instead.
In a turn of events that further fuelled tension, the referee reversed his decision once more and reinstated the penalty in favour of Vondwe XI Bullets.
The sequence of calls enraged Phalaborwa United players, technical team members, and supporters. The situation quickly escalated into violence, forcing the referee to sprint off the pitch to escape an advancing mob, requiring swift intervention from the South African Police Service [SAPS] to secure his safety.
SAFA LIMPOPO HAND DOWN TWO-YEAR EXPULSION TO PHALABORWA UNITED
Following a disciplinary hearing, the SAFA Limpopo Disciplinary Committee [DC] found Phalaborwa United guilty of multiple counts of misconduct, resulting in their immediate expulsion from the league for two years.
According to the DC, Phalaborwa United contravened the following SAFA Competition Uniform Rules:
a) Rule 24.2.12.1 [Invasion of the field of play]: Phalaborwa United supporters entered the pitch and remained on the field during the dispute over the penalty decision.
b) Rule 24.2.12.2 [Causing the abandonment of a match]: Following the referee’s flight from the pitch, the assistant referee attempted to resume play and instructed both captains that the match would proceed with the penalty. Phalaborwa United refused to allow the penalty to be taken and declined to continue play.
c) Rule 24.2.12.3 [Throwing bottles or other objects]: Evidence confirmed that Phalaborwa United supporters launched missiles, including bottles and cans, directly at the match official.
d) Rule 24.2.12.7 [Insulting or assaulting match officials]: Phalaborwa United players physically pushed the referee before spectators stormed the pitch to attack him. The referee testified to being physically assaulted before fleeing until law enforcement stepped in.
Following the ruling, Vondwe XI Bullets have been awarded the match victory and will advance to face Selwana White Vultures in the next round of the Limpopo Nedbank Cup preliminary fixtures.
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