Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda-Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIFA have kept their foot on the pedal in their quest for perfection from match officials, with the association coming down hard on five errant referees who have been suspended for poor officiating.
The domestic football mother-body have in the last two seasons expressed worry over underwhelming referees whose officiating has sparked controversies in matches across different leagues.
Reports of questionable officiating have emerged from various parts of the country, including Centenary in Mashonaland Central and Victoria Falls in Matabeleland North.
Among those who have fallen foul of the commendable ZIFA crackdown on errant officials s assistant referee Phikisani Ndlovu, who handles some Premier Soccer League games.
Ndlovu and four of his colleagues have been suspended by ZIFA for breaching Article 22 of the ZIFA Referees Code of Conduct.
He officiated as an assistant referee during FC Platinum’s match against FC Hunters at Mandava on June 27, but was poor in executing his duties.
Ndlovu received a six-match suspension covering Match-days 21 to 26 after controversial decisions were made during the fixture.
Two other assistant referees, Christian Gumbeze and Praise Mkwevo, were also suspended for violating the same code of conduct. Referees Chamunorwa Tapiwa and Graduate Mubobo complete the list of suspended officials.
“The sanctions relate to incorrect officiating decisions considered to have materially affected the outcomes of the respective matches, in breach of Article 22 of the ZIFA Referees Code of Conduct,” ZIFA said in a statement.
The association said the disciplinary action followed careful consideration of reports submitted by match commissioners.
Tapiwa was suspended for six Northern Region Soccer League matches, from Matchday 17 to Match-day 22, following his handling of the Marere FC versus Zambezi G & C FC fixture at Centenary Ground on June 21.
Assistant referee Gumbeze received an identical six-match suspension arising from the same game.
In the Southern Region Soccer League, referee Mubobo was also banned for six matches after officiating a fixture at Chinotimba Stadium on June 24.
His assistant, Mkwevo, was handed a similar penalty for his controversial role in the same match.
“ZIFA remains committed to maintaining high standards of officiating, integrity, and accountability across all competitions under its jurisdiction,” the association said.
The latest disciplinary action comes barely two months after ZIFA suspended three match officials from Premier Soccer League duty for similar breaches of the Referees Code of Conduct.
Referees Lloyd Mapanje and Venancio Zulu, together with assistant referee Muroiwa Wirimai, were suspended in May.
Zulu received a five-match suspension from Match-days 10 to 14 following his performance during the Bulawayo Chiefs versus Chicken Inn match at Barbourfields on April 25.
Wirimai was suspended for six matches, covering Match-days 10 to 15, after officiating the MWOS versus Scotland fixture at Ngoni on the same day.
Mapanje was also handed a six-match suspension, spanning Match-days 11 to 16, following his below-par performance during the Scotland versus Simba Bhora match at Rufaro on May 3.
The repeated suspensions have heightened concerns over the standard of officiating in Zimbabwean football, with refereeing errors increasingly becoming a decisive factor in match outcomes.
However, the disciplinary measures also underscore ZIFA’s determination to improve accountability and restore confidence in the country’s match officiating, with Referees Committee chairperson Faith Mloyi and her leadership not in the mood to have match officials being found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute.
