SOCCER – THE Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Referees’ Review Committee has moved to assert its authority by summoning five Premier League match officials who now face the looming threat of suspension following a series of high-profile errors.
This decisive action comes at a critical juncture for the local game, as the heat intensifies from the highest levels of government. Only last week, legislators in Parliament voiced their growing frustrations, calling for an urgent and formal probe into the conduct of match officials across the country. The lawmakers cited a worrying decline in officiating standards and suggested that the very integrity of the sport was being compromised by repeated, avoidable blunders.
The current atmosphere of scrutiny is further heightened by the fact that the summons follow a similar wave of disciplinary action taken just last month, when several other officials were sidelined over allegations of poor performance.
The latest group to fall under the microscope includes referee Thokozani Gamedze and his assistants, Majawonkhe Tsabedze and Sambulo Simelane. Reports indicate that the trio has been sanctioned following significant errors committed on March 14 during an MTN Premier League encounter at the King Sobhuza II Stadium involving Nsingizini Hotspurs. A flashpoint in that fixture occurred before the interval when a goal by Malanti Chiefs’ Cedric Masilela was disallowed after a rebound from a spot kick, a decision that has since drawn heavy criticism.
According to the established disciplinary codes for match officials any acts of poor performance rooted in blatant refereeing mistakes or failure to interpret the laws of the game must be met with formal sanctions.
The protocol has also been applied to referee Sanele Ntimane and assistant Thembinkosi Magagula. The pair was reportedly disciplined due to a collective failure to identify an offside during the March 16 MTN Premier League clash between Manzini Wanderers and Ubombo Sugar at the Mavuso Sports Centre.
The hub giants ultimately lost the match 1-3, with Ubombo Sugar striker Neliso ‘Shaka’ Myeni scoring a contentious goal in the 90th minute, an incident that sparked significant unrest among the home supporters.
Under the current regulations, match officials found guilty of such lapses are typically suspended for a period of five weeks. During this time, they are generally demoted to officiate in the lower leagues and are required to undergo a period of rehabilitation to sharpen their skills.
EFA Referees’ Committee Chairperson Sicelo Nene sought to clarify the situation, noting that while the officials have been called in, the process is still ongoing.
“There is something on the table regarding what you are asking. We have invited certain match officials which I cannot disclose their names to assist us on what transpired during recent matches. We have noted that there were anomalies in the officiating and there are circulating videos indicating inefficiency. We want them to show cause why they should not be suspended and are waiting for their response,” he said.
The fallout from the incidents has left club officials wary of speaking out for fear of further repercussions. Manzini Wanderers Communications Manager Sandile ‘Ntofo’ Dlamini remained tight-lipped when approached for comment on the matter.
“As Manzini Wanderers Football Club, we are staying on our lane as they told us recently,” he remarked.
In an effort to address these systemic issues, the Referee’s Committee held a dedicated workshop on Sunday at the Caritas Centre in Manzini. The session focused on reinforcing the fundamental laws of the game and ensuring that all officials are properly trained in the crucial task of drafting accurate match reports.
