By AKANI CHAUKE
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – THE South African Football Association (SAFA) has suspended two match officials in the wake of poor officiating during the new Premier Soccer League (PSL) season.
Referee Cedrick Muvhali and his assistant, Patrick Jafta, have been suspended from handling any game until the end of the year after controversial decisions in the match between Cape Town City and Polokwane City on September 22 at the Cape Town Stadium.
As a result, the match fee which the two were supposed to have been paid is forfeited. Their monthly stipend for the same period of October to December has also been forfeited.
On resumption of their official duties, the two will officiate in National First Division (NFD) matches and a Senior Match Commissioner will be assigned to all of their matches to monitor them for at least four weeks.
SAFA Senior Referees Manager, Ian McLeod, said the punishment was warranted considering the negative publicity the scenario had hogged as a result of the two’s poor performance.
“This type of performance must not re-occur at any level in the future,” warned McLeod.
SAFA said both officials had accepted the outcome.
“We needed to act swiftly and decisively in order to send a strong message to all match officials that such below par performances are unacceptable and measures will be taken against match officials who perform poorly,” said SAFA chair of the Technical Committee, Natasha Tsichlas.
– CAJ News