Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira
INJURIES occurs no matter which sport you play, whether that be football, baseball, basketball, and so on.
We always see players getting injured from various things but what about the referees?
What happens to a referee when they get injured?
As per Fifa rules, before a match is set to take place, there must be a clear understanding of who is going to replace the match referee if he/she gets injured or is not able to continue.
Usually, if a referee is unable to continue the match the responsibility then carries over to the fourth official or the senior assistant referee to complete the match.
What happens if a referee is injured during a soccer match?
If it is an international match, the responsibility then falls to the fourth official and this is because he or she will have the experience to take over as the main referee for the match. The fourth official is essentially a substitute for the main referee.
Such was the scenario during last Saturday’s high-octane Premier Soccer League clash between table-toppers MWOS and Scottland, but it wasn’t just the football that had tongues wagging. Referee Thabani Ruzario’s sudden exit from the match has now sparked a wildfire of conspiracy theories.
With just 20 minutes left on the clock, Ruzario limped off the pitch and was replaced by the fourth official, sending social media into meltdown.
Armchair critics accused the Fifa-accredited referee of “chickening out” under pressure in what was billed as one of the biggest clashes of the season.
Ruzario has broken his silence to set the record straight.
“I was anticipating a throw-in when my foot got stuck in a small hole on the pitch. I twisted my ankle and couldn’t continue,” he said.
“The medics tried to patch me up, but I had no power in the leg. An ambulance took me to hospital, and X-rays showed I overstretched my ankle muscles.”
The good news is that Ruzario’s on the mend and expected to bounce back soon.
However, the setback means he will miss the ongoing Cosafa Championship, a bitter blow after his standout performance at the Under-20 Afcon.
Meanwhile, the PSL has entered a brief pause due to the Fifa international break.
Zimbabwe Warriors face Burkina Faso this evening and Niger on Tuesday in upcoming friendlies in Morocco, and domestic action resumes 13 June.
