REFEREE Jelly Chavani is back!
Chavani was slapped with a six week suspension by the Safa Review Committee board after he was found guilty “of executing his duties in an unacceptable manner” in the Dstv Premiership match between AmaZulu against Kaizer Chiefs at Jonsson Kings Park Stadium on 2 October when he awarded Amakhosi a controversial injury time penalty from which they scored and earned a 1-1 draw.
The fourth official Moeketsi Molelekoa was also suspended for six weeks. He also returns to PSL duty after completing his punishment.
“The suspension is over after Chavani underwent the rehabilitation programme,” said Safa Head of Referees Abdul Ebrahim.
“While he was serving the ban, he was officiating in the local provincial leagues and he was assessed by national assessors. He was put through the programme by Enoch Molefe, who is a technical committee member.”
Chavani has already been officiating. He was the referee in the Nedbank Cup preliminary round when JDR Stars defeated Hungry Lions 1-0 almost three weeks ago.
Meanwhile, veteran referee Philip Tinyani who failed the pre-season fitness test has been given another lifeline after he missed a second fitness test last month due to a car accident.
Safa are planning to put him through his paces in a mid-season fitness test in January when the domestic season will be on a short break due to the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals in Cameroon.
“Philip did not rerun the fitness test last month because he was involved in a car accident,” said Ebrahim.
“I actually received the doctor’s note. And as precaution, he was asked not to do any physical exercise and needed to rest.”