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| Columns |
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by
Gracian Tukula ,Gracian Tukula , 16 January 2004
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14:39:19
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Fighting controversy
Those who don’t know Vice President Justin Malewezi well might have been surprised why he chose January 1 to drop his bombshell. For those of us who know him as an ardent soccer follower and former player, the move was hardly surprising. The transfer window in Europe was opening on the same day.
News of Malewezi’s move overshadowed the start of the new season which was threatened by a possible referee boycott. Somehow the referees softened up and the season started but not without casualties. We are told Charles Kafatiya has been accused of foiling the planned boycott and has since been suspended.
Referees are very important to the game and they need to be treated fairly. One hopes past problems of payment will not recur not only this year but also in future. I know in England they recently launched a programme to promote respect for referees following incidents of physical and verbal abuse, particularly in the lower leagues.
While at it, however, I feel our referees are not accountable enough for their actions. I have already said they are important and they can single-handedly decide the result of a game. In Malawi I have never heard them being taken to task to explain their decisions.
Somebody told me referees are not supposed to give interviews to reporters on the decisions they make on the field. I don’t know where he got that from because I have seen referees granting interviews to reporters before. Just last Sunday referee Paul Durkin was explaining two crucial decisions in the drawn game between Manchester United and Newcastle United.
In the interview he admitted to have erred in denying the Geordies a penalty after Alan Shearer was tripped in the box by goalkeeper Tim Howard but he stood by his decision to rule out Mikael Silvestre’s goal for the Mancunians. I also remember watching a referee explaining why he raised his hand in celebration when Liverpool scored against Leeds United three years ago.
Last season was famous for its controversies emanating from referees’ dubious decisions, most notably in the Carlsberg Cup final, but no referee was ever taken to task for any of those decisions. Are Malawian referees sacred cows? I think holding them accountable is one way of making them do a good job.,
Fighting controversy
Those who don’t know Vice President Justin Malewezi well might have been surprised why he chose January 1 to drop his bombshell. For those of us who know him as an ardent soccer follower and former player, the move was hardly surprising. The transfer window in Europe was opening on the same day.
News of Malewezi’s move overshadowed the start of the new season which was threatened by a possible referee boycott. Somehow the referees softened up and the season started but not without casualties. We are told Charles Kafatiya has been accused of foiling the planned boycott and has since been suspended.
Referees are very important to the game and they need to be treated fairly. One hopes past problems of payment will not recur not only this year but also in future. I know in England they recently launched a programme to promote respect for referees following incidents of physical and verbal abuse, particularly in the lower leagues.
While at it, however, I feel our referees are not accountable enough for their actions. I have already said they are important and they can single-handedly decide the result of a game. In Malawi I have never heard them being taken to task to explain their decisions.
Somebody told me referees are not supposed to give interviews to reporters on the decisions they make on the field. I don’t know where he got that from because I have seen referees granting interviews to reporters before. Just last Sunday referee Paul Durkin was explaining two crucial decisions in the drawn game between Manchester United and Newcastle United.
In the interview he admitted to have erred in denying the Geordies a penalty after Alan Shearer was tripped in the box by goalkeeper Tim Howard but he stood by his decision to rule out Mikael Silvestre’s goal for the Mancunians. I also remember watching a referee explaining why he raised his hand in celebration when Liverpool scored against Leeds United three years ago.
Last season was famous for its controversies emanating from referees’ dubious decisions, most notably in the Carlsberg Cup final, but no referee was ever taken to task for any of those decisions. Are Malawian referees sacred cows? I think holding them accountable is one way of making them do a good job. |
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