A former Safa convenor of referees has revealed that PSL clubs are suffering because of “microwave referees”, who have been fast-tracked to officiate in big league matches.
This, according to the erstwhile convenor, has resulted in substandard refereeing and one of the worst seasons for referees in the history of the PSL. In the last couple of weeks, shocking refereeing during matches has left coaches, players, supporters, and club bosses fuming.
PSL coaches Rulani Mokwena (Mamelodi Sundowns), Sead Ramovic (TS Galaxy), Pablo Franco (AmaZulu), Ernst Middendorp (Cape Town Spurs), and, to a certain extent, Orlando Pirates’ Jose Riveiro, have expressed their anger and frustrations with some of the dodgiest decisions made by the men entrusted with controlling and overseeing the games.
The deafening silence from the PSL, who are the custodians of professional football in the country, is also worrisome. It is their product that is getting tainted week in and out, and not a word has been uttered.
“A previous HOD for referees was promoting young referees without following proper procedure and criteria.
“The young referees were thrown in at the deep end to officiate in big matches without being given the tools to handle such big occasions.
“We are now suffering because of these ‘microwave referees’,” said our informant.
“They did not equip themselves with the necessary information quick enough to settle down into the job and to succeed. They have been on the panel for about three seasons now but they still cannot cope with the demands of the PSL. You need big match temperament to officiate in those matches,” he added.
“Right now, VAR (video assistant referee) is the only solution, and there does not seem to be another alternative. There is no time to find and train a new panel of referees because a lot goes into putting up a team of referees, like physical training, grasping the Fifa rule book,
and getting them in tip-top shape mentally.
“The chairman of the referees committee, Victor Gomes, must give us direction with regards to the availability of VAR,” said our informant.
“We have seen some of the referees being taken to the referees’ rehabilitation programme under Paulo Marquez. But that does not seem to be working. The likes of Thamaga Sebati, Sibusiso Sisilana and Thabo Mkhabela were dispatched to that rehab programme, but the same mistakes are continuing.”
There are also concerns raised about disciplinary action not -being taken against referees who have been committing errors in the last couple of weeks.
Referee Jelly Chavane has been out of his depth recently.
He handled the Soweto derby between the Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs poorly.
He also had a torrid night in the controversial clash between Moroka Swallows and Sundowns. Luxolo Badi and Bambiso Masixole have also been below par.
All three have not been sanctioned or suspended. Gomes did not respond to Sunday World’s questions.
