Safa Vhembe suspended nine soccer referees and three teams over an alleged match-fixing scandal involving MMK Administrator league matches.
The secretary of Safa Vhembe, Mr Sam Matodzi, confirmed that the association had suspended the nine referees and three teams from participating in league activities after allegations of misconduct.
The head of referees in Vhembe, Samuel Maduwa, said that the association was continuing with investigations into other suspected illegal and corrupt activities in local football. "In the interest of protecting the integrity of such investigations, we will not release any further details at this stage. We do, however, commit to acting swiftly, effectively and without fear or favour, should we receive evidence of wrongdoing," said Maduwa.
Sam Matodzi said that the allegations of misconduct included match fixing, unethical conduct and soliciting a bribe before and during matches. He said that Safa Vhembe stood for integrity in football and that fans should have confidence in the way the leagues were run. "Having clean competitions is our greatest asset. Our football matches should not be decided on the gambling market, but on the football fields. It is for this reason that Safa Vhembe has decided to tackle match-fixing, unethical conduct and/or any corrupt activity head on, by imposing a zero-tolerance policy. We have opted for a combined repressive and preventive approach, comprising a wide range of actions and measures. We once more make an appeal to all our teams to report any sign of attempted match fixing and unethical conduct by our referees immediately. We therefore discourage any club official and referee from involving themselves in corrupt activities during our games," he said
The investigation follows after owners of several teams that participate in the leagues under Safa Vhembe's auspices have complained about the conduct of referees. They believe that the referees are killing the standard of football in the region, because some of them request payment from clubs, should they wish to win matches.
Some of the club owners, who did not want to speak on record, said that the issue of bribery had been reported to Safa Vhembe on several occasions. They said that they were happy now, because some of the referees had been suspended and this would send a message to others that bribery in sport was not acceptable.
One of the referees who was suspended is Nzunzukani Ngwenya, an assistant referee in the ABC Motsepe league and a referee in Stream E, the Sinthumule and Kutama area. Dion Mphuma and Oddies Moyana, who officiated in matches in Stream A in the Thohoyandou area, were also suspended. The other six suspended referees are from the Nzhelele area's stream G, and they are: Tshianeo Ratshilumela, Rollet Mulaudzi, Aifheli Mudau, Khuliso Ramulumbi, Stephen Sinthumule and Livhuwani Makhomisane.
Matodzi said that the suspended teams were Tshikhwani Stone Breakers, Phylimak Football Club and Muchipisi Happy Fighters. A club official, Mr Raymond Chauke of Muchipisi Happy Fighters, was also suspended.