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Stanford Chiwanga, [email protected] 

FOOTBALL matches are often decided by the finest of margins. A moment of brilliance. A simple tap-in. A fortunate deflection. A decisive penalty. A careless mistake. An unfortunate own goal. A red card that turns dominance into subjugation. In Zimbabwe, however, fans of football believe that a different force can determine the outcome of a match — the referee’s whistle. 

This season, many, Highlanders and Dynamos fans included, have contended that sheer incompetence and, at times, corrupt intentions have swayed the result of a game, leaving teams and their supporters feeling frustrated and disillusioned.

Thabani Bamala

And they are not wrong. One month into the season, in April, three referees were suspended for questionable officiating in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) by the ZIFA Referees Committee. 

Fast forward to October, assistant referee Kudzanai Hiya was handed a five-year ban and fined 100 000 Swiss francs (US$116 650) after being found guilty of match manipulation and corruption when he was officiating the Herentals versus Dynamos PSL match on May 12. The match ended in a 1-1 deadlock, but Hiya was charged for receiving money from a Dynamos supporter to bend the results in favour of the Glamour Boys.

Tichaona Tigere

Rewind to September, 22 September to be exact, Simba Bhora took on Highlanders. The match was abandoned after referee Cecil Ngwezere awarded a controversial penalty to Simba Bhora in the 79th minute. The penalty decision, which was for a foul that occurred outside the penalty area, led to protests from Highlanders players. The match was abandoned. Ngwezere and assistant referee Zondzi Ngosana were suspended for six matches for their roles in the decision. 

Spool back to May, where Bikita Minerals took on Dynamos. Bikita Minerals coach Saul Chaminuka criticised the referee for disallowing a legitimate goal, which he claimed cost his team the match. The referee’s decision was widely debated, and Chaminuka’s comments led to a disciplinary hearing.

Accelerate to June, Triangle United meet Ngezi Platinum. Triangle United’s coach accused the referee of bias after a series of questionable calls, including a disallowed goal and a dubious penalty awarded to Ngezi Platinum. The referee was later suspended for poor performance.

Skip to July, a referee was under attack for failing to award a clear penalty to Herentals, which many believed influenced the outcome of their match against CAPS United. The incident sparked outrage among Herentals fans and official. 

Not surprising, coaches in the league have voiced their displeasure. They have not held back. They have criticised the referees and rightly so. After all a bad result can lead to a job loss. Ask Erik Ten Hag and he will tell you about Michael Oliver, the referee who contributed to his sacking. 

During a match against CAPS United, Norman Mapeza was highly critical of the referee’s performance. He was particularly upset about a disallowed goal and several offside calls that he believed were incorrect. Mapeza stated that the referee’s decisions were “ruining the game” and called for better officiating standards.

In a match against Dynamos, Saul Chaminuka was vocal about his dissatisfaction with the referee after a controversial penalty was awarded to Dynamos. He argued that the decision was unjust and cost his team valuable points. Chaminuka expressed his frustration, saying that such decisions were “destroying the integrity of the league”. 

Cecil Ngwezere

Lloyd Chitembwe was fined US$400 for his post-match comments following a game against FC Platinum. The match was abandoned after CAPS United fans invaded the pitch in protest of a referee’s decision to disallow a late goal for offside. Chitembwe criticised the referee, calling the officiating a “comic show” and stating that such decisions were detrimental to the league’s credibility. 

Joey Antipas was in trouble early this season after he questioned the impartiality of match officials. He charged with breaching PSL rules and regulations and also bringing the league into disrepute. Antipas spoke negatively against the referee after his side Chicken Inn lost 0-1 to Manica Diamonds at Sakubva. 

The few incidents mentioned above are just a tip of the iceberg. A noticeable part of a problem. A sliver of the full scope. A small portion. A drop in the bucket. The quality of refereeing in Zimbabwe is holding football hostage, with numerous matches being marred by controversial decisions that have sparked outrage among coaches, players, and fans alike. Addressing the shortcomings in refereeing is a pressing matter that requires immediate action to prevent further damage to the league’s reputation and to ensure that matches are decided by the players’ skills rather than officiating errors.

Kudzanai Hiya

Improving the quality of refereeing will require a multi-layered approach that combines rigorous training, and strict accountability measures. Referees should undergo comprehensive training programmes that include both theoretical knowledge and practical simulations. The programmes must be designed to sharpen their decision-making skills, enhance their understanding of the game, and ensure they are well-versed in the latest rules and regulations. Send the referees to South Africa for training if that will help. Bring the best of former referees to Zimbabwe to train them. 

Hold the referees accountable — accountability is the cornerstone of any successful reform. A robust system where referees are regularly evaluated based on their performance, with transparent reviews conducted by an independent committee must be put in place. The committee must have the authority to impose sanctions or provide additional training for referees who consistently under-perform. 

Wait, we already have the Zifa Referees Committee. Is it not good enough? Indeed, it is not. It has failed to improve the standard of refereeing the country. 

Maybe it’s time to reform it. Destroy and rebuild it. The bridge is not over, it needs redoing. A culture of excellence and integrity among referees must be fostered and that can only happen with a committee that strives for professionalism. Without a doubt, this will in turn improve the quality of football. 

But that’s not enough. Human error will always be there. It’s inevitable that a referee will make a mistake. Referees are humans, not robots. 

They are not machines. They are not computers. They need assistant to further reduce controversial decisions. This is where technology comes in. Using technology to help referees can make games fairer. 

Referees should have access to instant replays from different camera angles — think VAR. 

This would help them make better decisions and reduce mistakes that can change the game’s result.