Match officials banned

Mbachi Mutukula Maregere Sports Reporter
ZIFA have come down heavily on two match officials, Moffat Tembo and Washington Mafirovanda, by banning them for a combined 16 years for allegedly attempting to fix World Navi Northern Region Division matches. Tembo, a match commissioner, was slapped with a 10-year ban while referee Mafirovanda was slapped with a six-year suspension from all football activities.

The bans were meted out after the pair was found guilty by the Zifa Referees Disciplinary Committee chaired by former FIFA referee Brighton Mudzamiri.
Tembo was charged in terms of paragraph 17.0 of the ZIFA standing orders, read in conjunction with the ZIFA Referees committee code of conduct and the Zifa Rules and Regulations.
Part of this reads: “It is an offence to facilitate or accept any favours calculating to influence the result of a match to which one has been appointed, including matches to which one has not been appointed.”

The referees committee rules and regulations impose a ban, in the range of two to 10 years, for an offence of this magnitude.
According to the ZIFA website, Tembo’s ban took effect from October 15.

“During this period of banishment, Tembo is barred from attending all ZIFA-sanctioned matches as his presence at these matches is likely to influence the outcome of those matches,” ZIFA said.

“He is also banned from interacting with any soccer referees.”
The Mudzamiri-led committee also ruled that upon expiry of his period of suspension, if the accused wishes to bounce back into football, he will do so through an application to the ZIFA board.

Tembo was accused of attempting to drag into a match-fixing scam the referees during a World Navi Northern Region Division One match between Chegutu Pirates and Ngezi Platinum when he offered the referees a $300 bounty in the event they helped the Pirates to victory.

The move was, however, foiled after the referees notified the match commissioner of the day, Obert Mamvura, and the case was then directed to the disciplinary committee which found Tembo guilty.

The official pleaded “not guilty’’ to the offence.
In his defence, Tembo claimed he had been put under pressure by some unnamed Chegutu “politicians” who were desperately trying to save Chegutu Pirates from relegation by attempting to fix matches.

“The disciplinary committee applauded the act of honesty and bravery exhibited by the match day officials namely Nomore Musundire, Asthma Mataya and John Maruve in recognising, resisting and reporting all forms of match-fixing.

“In a similar case, a class one referee, Washington Mafirovanda, was also found guilty for contravening paragraph 17.0 of the Zifa standing orders and he will be away from football for six years with effect from the September 1 this year to the end of August 2019.

“Conditions of his ban are similar to those of the banished Tembo,’’ read a statement on the ZIFA website.
Mafirovanda was found guilty of attempting to solicit for financial benefits from a Flame Lily official in return for favourable decisions for the team after he was notified of his appointment as the second assistant referee for a match pitting Flame Lily and Seven Flames.

Flame Lilly officials, realising that the former’s decisions were biased, lodged a complaint with the referees committee.
“The accused is alleged to have exchanged ‘WhatsApp’ messages with a Flame Lily official only identified as Mutame suggesting that he would convince the centre official to throw favours for Flame Lily.

“The match in concern took place on the weekend of June 28 and June 29 earlier this year. Godfrey Duncan was in the centre while Tafireyi Phiri was the first assistant referee.
“After his guilty plea, the committee comprising of Brighton Mudzamiri, Martin Gambanga, Abednico Mugadza and David Ticharwa handed Mafirovanda to a six-year ban.”

The suspension also comes with the revocation of the accused’s class one certificate and if he wishes to re-join officiating he has to apply again and after approval he will then attend a refresher course.

The referees committee expressed gratitude to all individuals whose input has brought to light the shameful activities that maim the beautiful game.
“In conclusion, the committee would like to thank Flame Lily and its officials for exposing the cancerous trend that left our game degenerated a few years back.

“At the same time we encourage other club officials to flush out those who are in the habit of engaging in corrupt activities so as to exorcise the match-fixing ghost,” the judgment reads.
Both judgments stressed the vitality of setting precedents for future offenders while nipping match-fixing tendencies in the bud.