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The referee, Mr Stewart Mathakgane, asked the assistant referee to leave the pitch.

Assistant-referee red-carded amidst bribery accusations

 

The problem of match-fixing and bribery among referees has been in the spotlight recently. Locally, these problems have also surfaced. In the match last Sunday (18 February) between Makhitha Yellow Birds and Mpheni Home Defenders, an assistant-referee was asked to leave the pitch after being accused of receiving a bribe.

The MMK Administrators league Stream E match was marred by controversy. The referee, Mr Stewart Mathakgane, alleges that he was approached by representatives from different teams prior to the start of the match. He said that an official from one of the league contenders promised him R1 500, should he swing the match in Yellow Birds' favour. Mathakgane further alleges that an official of Yellow Birds later also contacted him and offered him R2 000. He was even promised that he would receive confirmation of the payment on his phone before the start of the match.

According to Mathakgane, while they were still in the dressing room, allegations were made that R800 had been paid into the account of the assistant referee, Mr Jeron Kutama. Mathakgane said that he told the officials and representatives that he did not work that way.

Not long after the match had started, an official from Mpheni Home Defenders complained to the referee that the conditions prevailing were not conducive to fair play. The official complained about the assistant referee and said it would be impossible for them to score, because the Mpheni players would be ruled offside every time.

Mathakgane stopped play for a few minutes and issued a red card to the assistant referee, Kutama. He felt it was the only way to ensure that the match could continue in a fair manner.

The red-carded assistant referee vehemently denied accusations that he had received a bribe to influence the match. He said that he was surprised when the coach of Home Defenders went onto the pitch and instructed the referee to give him a red card. He denied talking to any of the Defenders officials.

Mathakgane said afterwards that he had declined many offers from club officials who wanted him to fix the results of their matches. “I don’t want to ruin my refereeing career by taking bribes,” he said. He indicated that his aim was to see himself officiating at international matches in three years’ time.

Mathakgane said that the matter was reported to SAFA's Vhembe office. Kutama said that he had reported the incident to the referee's selectors.

When contacted, the SAFA Vhembe office said that they were still waiting for the report from the referee.

Sport - Date: 01 March 2018

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Assistant referee Jeron Kutama was red-carded.

 

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Kaizer Nengovhela

Kaizer Nengovhela started writing stories for Limpopo Mirror in 2000. Prior to that he had a five year stint at Phala-Phala FM as sports presenter. In 2005 Kaizer received an award from the province's premier as Best Sports Presenter. The same year he was also nominated as Best Sports Reporter by the Makhado Municipality. Kaizer was awarded the Mathatha Tsedu award in 2014.

Email: [email protected]

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