A referee who appointed himself and went on to officiate in an ABC Motsepe League match without the knowledge of SAFA has been suspended until he appears in a DC. The bizarre incident occurred in the Limpopo stream B match between Mighty FC and Eleven Fast Tigers.
Despite SAFA’s refusal to issue the name of the official, FARPost has gathered that the said referee is Bethuel Makgato.
HOW A REFEREE IN LIMPOPO APPOINTED HIMSELF FOR A LEAGUE MATCH
He allegedly rocked up at a match alone to officiate with no knowledge of the referee’s appointment committee. Strangely, the match officials who were appointed for the match could not arrive due to ‘logistical’ issues.
He was due to appear before the provincial DC on Thursday but was unable to because of the protests in Polokwane.
“The referee was charged for giving misleading information to SAFA on the match that he was not appointed to officiate,” SAFA Limpopo secretary Refiloe Khoza told FARPost.
MATCH OFFICIAL REMAINS SUSPENDED BY SAFA UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
“SAFA charged him to appear before the DC for the information that he sent to us. Obviously, the content of the information cannot be shared now because the matter is sub judice. But yes he will be appearing for misleading SAFA.
“He will remain suspended until he appears before the DC. That was the decision we took administratively that he should not officiate in any match until he appears before the DC. As soon as he appears pending the outcome of the DC then we will know his fate.”
This is not the first time that a referee appears before a SAFA DC in the province. It is also not the first time that the same referee has been suspended. In 2022, he was suspended during an ABC Motsepe League provincial promotion playoffs after issuing two strange red cards to the same team.
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