Looking for the referee during the game? Just look for the person in green and purple.
The South African Football Association has partnered with insurance firm OUTsurance in a R50 million, five-year deal as the official sponsor of local match officials.
Starting this coming weekend, Safa referees will come out dressed in branded kits, Safa announced during the launch at its headquarters in Nasrec, Johannesburg, on Tuesday.
The latest development sees Safa joining worldwide trends where match officials are branded the same way as clubs.
The green and purple of OUTsurance will not only be visible in the Absa Premiership matches but it will apply across all the other tiers – the National First Division, ABC Motsepe League, SAB League and the Sasol Women’s League, as well as in cup competitions.
Safa is hoping to make the most of sponsorship by developing referees as well as ensuring that the match officials are paid on time, among other benefits, according to the federation vice-president Ria Ledwaba.
Read more on referees in this Sunday’s City Press.