Fifa yesterday sent back local referees who were earlier earmarked for the Under-20 World Cup, which is under way, after one of them failed a fitness test.

Fifa yesterday sent back local referees who were earlier earmarked for the Under-20 World Cup, which is under way, after one of them failed a fitness test.

The South Africa panel was sent packing after assistant referee Siphiwo Jibiliza failed a medical test. The panel included referee Jerome Damon and another assistant, Enock Molefe.

While Safa awaits Fifa's medical report on the incident, it would appear that Jibiliza collapsed in the middle of the test and apparently suffered a blackout, forcing the decision by Fifa to send the whole team back.

The chairman of the national referees committee, Kirsten Nematandani, described this development as unfortunate, as all three had just passed the national fitness tests.

"We did not see this one coming, as Jibiliza had passed all other Fifa tests before," he said. - Sowetan Sowetan