Former ref slams scandals

enhance prospects to officiate at international tournaments such as the Africa Cup of Nations, Africa Nations Championships and the World Cup.
In an exclusive interview yesterday, Manduna, said the allegations of match fixing and ultimately the hiring of foreign referees recently had taken the gains in the referees association 20 years back, something that could prove difficult to remedy.
“There is need for the referees to be honest in their dealings to reach the status some of the best referees reached.
“Once they adhere to ethics they will become great referees. The environment has changed at the moment and our game is so heavily inclined on moneymaking it so exposed to such manouvres like match fixing.
“During our time it was passion first and we would be content with what we got for example the 14 cents per kilometre transport allowance.
“Unfortunately some of our referees have abused this economic change to become so corrupt as to solicit bribes from clubs for the other way round clubs approaching the referees,” said Manduna.
In reference to the Asiagate, Centralgate and Refgate, Manduna urged Zifa to be stern in dealing with such elements.
“Such referees must go since they have proved to everyone that there are thieves. Tough luck to them if they are banned for life I have no regrets.
“At times you can easily tell there is something wrong with a particular referees, they ignore certain incidents to suit the people who would have paid them. Your role is simply to apply the 17 rules of the game but what we are getting are manipulated applications.
“As referee if a club approaches you the only option is to report to authorities so that the club is punished and if it is the referee who approaches the club then the club must make a report and the culprits must be banned,” said Manduna.
“Our referees are competent but the money scandal has killed our game.”