PROMINENT SA referee Ian Mcleod has been forced to step out of his comfort zone to bring some credibility to the crisis-hit SA Football Association (Safa) referees department.
Mcleod is acting Safa head of referees following the suspension of Peter Sejake on full pay in light of allegations of match-fixing during the 2016-17 promotion play-offs in June this year.
Since Sejake’s suspension, the department has been plunged into serious chaos, leaving referees frustrated and in the dark regarding their positions.
It is believed that a prominent ref, whose identity is known to SunSport, cut a deal for a certain match with certain Safa officials to have the game swayed to favour another club.
The whole refereeing team apparently agreed on how to split the “profits” but the eventual whistle-blower is believed to have been snubbed in this process, leading the ref to approach the integrity committee.
Mlungisi Ncane of the integrity committee apparently approached the Hawks to investigate the matter while Sejake, as head of the department, was asked to step aside while a report is compiled.
Responding to SunSport about the rumoured suspension, Sejake said he was on leave, refusing to shed more light on the chaos in the department.
Safa spokesman, Dominic Chimhavi, declined to comment on Sejake’s suspension and Mcleod’s acting role: “It’s Safa policy not to comment on staff related matters. The referees department is working full throttle, as always.”
Asked if he could confirm that Sejake had been ousted, he responded: “No.”
SunSport’s source close to the developments said: “About six referees have also been fingered in the matter of the head of departments suspension.
“There have been a lot of confessions, which strengthened Safa’s case against the referees.”
In another matter that makes a mockery of the department, SunSport has noticed that referees are officiating in the old 2016-17 badges instead of the 2017-18 badges, which is in line with Absa Premiership policy. Philip Tinyani officiated in the 2016-17 strip and last year’s uniform last weekend during the Bidvest Wits and Golden Arrows match.
“It is embarrassing for referees to officiate in old kit and old badges,” confessed a referee.
“The referees department is currently at its worst and no one is doing anything,” said a official who works for Safa.
SunSport is still waiting for the Safa refereeing department to release this season’s panel of officials indicating who is in and who is out. But rumour has it that Lwandile Mriki has again failed his fitness test.
Mcleod, who admitted to being in the caretaker role, guaranteed SunSport yesterday that “all is order” in his department. “The badges matter has been resolved. We have ordered the correct badges which should be ready soon.”
Regarding the new panel of referees, Mcleod said they had run fitness tests and pre-season seminars.
SunSport’s numerous attempts to set up a meeting with Safa chief executive Dennis Mumble drew a blank.
