A referee was allegedly assaulted during a Makhado Local Football Association match at Maebane on Saturday.
The match between Maebane Soccer Academy and Madodonga Pat All Stars was abandoned in the first half after just 20 minutes. Academy were leading 1-0 at the time.
Angry fans and officials of Pat All Stars accused the referee, Aluwani Mashavha, of bias. He was rescued from a mob of angry fans by the management of Academy.
Mashavha told Limpopo Mirror that he no longer felt safe as every decision he made was being questioned by fans who allegedly threatened to kill him. He said players, along with their coach, had confronted him after he had issued a yellow card to an All Stars player.
The fans refused to accept that their player was being penalised for his offence. The referee stood by his decision, but the situation turned violent when the player allegedly struck him on the forehead in front of team officials. Mashavha said he had no option but to stop the game, having felt threatened.
Academy manager Junior Mushwana expressed disappointment in All Stars' behaviour, saying, "They lack discipline, and such behaviour will not get them anywhere."
All Stars manager Pat Mahlamela criticised the referee, saying he had failed to control the game from the start and that his decisions had been one-sided. He added that losing a match in such circumstances was demoralising for both players and technical staff.
Makhado Local Football Association chairman Freddy Phathela said he was still awaiting reports from both teams and the referee. "Once we receive these reports, Pat All Stars will have to appear before a disciplinary hearing. They will be charged for the abandonment of the game and assaulting the referee," he said.