Victor Hlungwani on officiating – ‘Referees are scapegoats’

Kaizer Chiefs fans have been irate over decisions taken by Sikhumbuzo Gasa at the weekend following their 2-1 loss to title holders Mamelodi Sundowns.

READ: Steve Barker on Mojela’s scoring form, MTN8 selection headache

Hlungwani says there’s “no crisis”.

''Remember there are processes at SAFA where they review all the games, when they review all these games they make recommendations with the technical committee, if the technical committee agrees with the recommendations that maybe the referee at, there are consequences, at times the technical committee agrees with the decision of the referee, so there's no crisis. So people might say crisis crisis because they have lost. FIFA fair play says accept defeat with dignity and try to play better next time. 

So referees are used as scapegoats, when people lose games they don't check how many chances they missed. I can't mention names, but I saw players missing many chances, but they now want to look at one mistake by the referee. We are human beings, we do make mistakes, but don't use us as scapegoats, accept defeat and try to do better next time,'' said Hlungwani.

The Soccer Zone resident referee added that the reaction from fans and coaches alike has often been out of their “emotions” and not “facts”.

''How many games have we played now? Dan dance, he tried to say that Molangoane was not supposed to be sent off and we cleared it here on Soccer zone, to say - that is dogso, so correct decision by the referee. 

Some people are complaining just for complaining, they are not giving us facts in terms of the laws of the games. Support your argument with facts not emotions, so what we are seeing here is emotions not facts. Until such time we get people giving us facts connected with the laws of the game, we will just say - people need to accept defeat with dignity and plan better next time,'' added Hlungwani.

Hlungwani also confirmed that the SAFA review panel that sits regularly to look at officiating in the PSL remained hard at work.

''The review committee is doing their job, they are analysing games and they are making recommendations and at the moment. I don't see a referee being suspended. You are suspended when you make a decision that influences the outcome of the match. Which referee has influenced the outcome of the match that the technical committee felt it is wrong? 

Who made a decision that influenced the outcome of the match? if you say Gasa and we look at the clip, Gasa, he might have flaws here and there, it is human, it happens in the game, who is perfect? Does it influence the outcome of the game, if the answer is no - he will never be suspended,'' Hlungwani.

In another matter, Hlungwani gave an update on SA referees who will be on duty during 2025 AFCON qualifiers this month.