ZIFA Suspends Referees After Dynamos-Ngezi Match

ZIFA has suspended referees involved in the Dynamos-Ngezi match after reviewing poor officiating decisions (image source)

The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has suspended a number of match officials following a review of their performances in the recent Dynamos-Ngezi fixture, citing decisions that fell short of the standards expected in the Premier Soccer League. The move forms part of the referees committee’s disciplinary process, which includes formal reviews, published rulings, and temporary bans ahead of referees being considered for future appointments.

ZIFA’s action follows a pattern of transparency this year in which the association has publicly named and sanctioned officials for substandard performances, signalling a tougher approach to officiating standards across top-flight matches. Earlier in the season, ZIFA suspended three match officials after detailed assessments concluded their handling of high-profile fixtures did not meet the required benchmark, and the referees committee has repeatedly emphasised performance reviews as the route to accountability and retraining.

Stakeholders inside the game offered mixed reactions. Clubs and supporters welcomed the hard line on poor officiating as a necessary step to protect the integrity of competition and restore public confidence in match outcomes, while referee representatives cautioned that suspensions should be matched by clear feedback, retraining, and transparent appeal channels to avoid eroding morale among officials. Observers say the balance between sanctioning and capacity building will determine whether such measures raise standards sustainably or simply penalise individuals without addressing systemic weaknesses.

ZIFA has indicated that suspended officials will remain barred from assignments for the specified period set by the referees committee, after which they may be reassessed for fitness to return to duty. The association also reiterated plans to intensify referee development programmes, increase performance monitoring, and publish rulings to keep stakeholders informed about disciplinary outcomes and the rationale behind them.

As the league progresses, the referees committee’s continuing publication of sanctions aims to deter errors, encourage consistency, and reassure clubs and fans that match control will be held to higher, more transparent standards.