• Tweet

FAILED: Jerome Damon

PASSED: Daniel Bennett

RELATED ARTICLES

• Honour for top ref Bennet
• Referees see red, 4 players sent off

Only Daniel Bennett - who is earmarked for potential World Cup action in two years' time - passed Sunday's physical tests at the start of the annual pre-season workshop from the list of an elite panel of officials.

Others like Jerome Damon, Lwandile Mfiki, Victor Hlungwani, Buyile Gqubule and Charl Theron all failed the tests, plunging the domestic game into a major dilemma, officials said.

A total of 14 of the 25 referees who underwent the test failed and by rights are now ineligible to officiate at matches in the PSL or the NFD for the next six months.

"It was carnage on the track," said one official at the Fifa-conducted tests, which preceded two days of lectures for a total of 80 officials - referees and linesmen.

The majority of referees who were successful in the running tests at the Boksburg Stadium are young and inexperienced, officials said. This puts both Safa, who oversee the refereeing structures, and the PSL in a major quandary.

There are two options ahead:

l To bend the rules and allow a retaking of the tests to get more experienced referees onto the panel before the start of the new season. This would go against the strict policy over recent years that has seen officials like Damon, Theron, Yugesh Anjith and Matthew Dyer sitting out large stretches of the season.

l To stick to the rules and promote junior officials to take charge of PSL matches, where they are bound to make more mistakes in the pressure cauldron of PSL competitions, thereby raising the ire of the clubs.

Last season, clubs complained bitterly about a perceived decline in the standard of officiating, although referees and their assistants come under much more intense scrutiny these days. The crisis also raises questions over the efficiency of current refereeing structures.

Comments

• Sign in or sign up to comment

Thu May 23 05:55:36 SAST 2013 ::

Jul 17, 2012

Shredder

These 2 ba jesa Chiefs, especially Daniel Bennett
Report Abuse

Jul 17, 2012

BRA-MAFUTHA

Disaster fela.. how much are these refs get paid to officiate one PSL game for instance?
Report Abuse

Jul 17, 2012

Papage

It is understandable, it is only pre-season, they deserve a rest as well. I suggest the test be done again before the start of the new season and we will see great improvement.
Report Abuse

Jul 17, 2012

LeparaThePresident

@Shredder
These 2 ba jesa Chiefs, especially Daniel Bennett
_________________________

No Shredder, ga ba tshabe crowd ya Chiefs.

Report Abuse

Jul 17, 2012

Gusheshe

Jerome Damon yena is biased that guy especially towards Sundowns
Report Abuse

Jul 17, 2012

2nevvy4u

Gusheshe
Jerome Damon yena is biased that guy especially towards Sundowns
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
vele sandawana in many games he showed that as long as he is the referee in tthat game we will never win
Report Abuse

Jul 17, 2012

CYBORICO

Good for soccer, that Gcubule guy and Damon have their own issues. Gcubule officiated all three Pirates and Downs games last year and man the guy had issues.
Report Abuse

Jul 17, 2012

Mokwepa

i blame tomato souce
Report Abuse

Jul 17, 2012

mathopeed

This two costs sundowns dearly. Guys, SUNDOWNS will be the best this season
Report Abuse

Jul 17, 2012

tpaz

promote the Junior refs, we need fresh air.
Report Abuse

Read all 53 comments