Hanging Judge: These referees were off-mark

This past weekend, I was appalled to witness referees being verbally and physically abused in soccer matches in South Africa and in the English Premier League. I thought this behaviour was something that was consigned to the past.

During my time refereeing in South Africa, the referees were subjected to such abuse on a regular basis and, were it not for the excellent support and protection of the NSL and PSL referee security personnel, someone would have surely been injured or even killed.

I don’t write those words lightly or foolishly.

Thankfully, I was a victim of physical abuse only once, but I had to run the gauntlet from the field of play to the dressing room many times.

I don’t want this column to be about me, but it’s important to put the issue into perspective.

I was taken away from the stadiums in the boot of a police vehicle several times. I was nearly killed in Tembisa during a game between Arcadia Shepherds and Orlando Pirates.

I had a bullet left in my hotel room in Bloemfontein before I was scheduled to officiate in a relegation game.

On another occasion, a fan from Moroka Swallows phoned my office and said: “If Swallows don’t win, you’ll get a bullet in your face.”

Once, I was assaulted at the Independence Stadium in Mthatha and, were it not for the late Clarence Mlokoti, the former Kaizer Chiefs director, I might not be here to tell these tales.

Such is life for a match official – whether in the middle or on the line.

The scenes I witnessed in the game between Cape Town City and Bidvest Wits at the weekend were shocking, and the perpetrators deserve to have the book thrown at them.

For those who didn’t watch the match, referee Masixole Bambiso was pushed and shoved, and one player even aimed a slap at the back of his head. In the end, a yellow card was produced when, in my opinion, there should have been at least two or three red cards issued.

The worst thing about all this is that the players were protesting about a penalty that was awarded – and it was the correct decision by the referee.

The second incident happened in the game between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield last Sunday.

There was a challenge for the ball between United keeper David de Gea and Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk.

In my opinion, it was a legal challenge. The keeper mishandled the ball and then decided to fall down, indicating to the referee that he had been fouled.

Referee Craig Pawson saw nothing wrong and waved play on.

There was no sign of what was about to happen. Roberto Firmino scored a wonderful goal from a difficult angle, and that was the signal for the United players to surround the referee, “spit” out their vitriol and venom, and jostle him in the process.

They say discretion is the better part of valour and the referee, not wanting to be seen to make the decision to award the goal himself, which he had originally done, decided to consult the video assistant referee (VAR).

After a short time, the goal was ruled out for a foul on De Gea.

This was one of the biggest derelictions of duty I have ever seen. It was a legitimate goal and it should have been awarded to Liverpool.

In fact, if the referee had consulted the monitor at the side of the pitch – which match officials were instructed to do by Fifa – he would have seen that no foul had been committed, but it was easier to blame the VAR.

I have said many times in the past that I am loathe to criticise referees. However, criticism is justified this time.

In my opinion, the referees did not do their jobs in either match.

Happy whistling!

• sports@citypress.co.za
• thehangingjudge88@gmail.com
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