The referee who officiated at the Safa Vhembe SAB league match between Lufule United Artist and Maniini All Blacks, Mr Mpariseni Musekwa, and his two assistants were allegedly assaulted and doused with liquor and his car was smashed at the Lufule grounds on Saturday.

According to the Safa Vhembe SAB league co-coordinator, Mr Piet Sikhwivhilu, the home team, United Artists, was leading 2-1 when the referee awarded Maniini All Blacks a penalty. After the referee pointed to the white spot, the supporters of the United allegedly went onto the pitch to protest to the referee and accusing him of applying favoritism. During the chaos, officials of the team calmed the situation by requesting their supporters to leave the pitch.

After the incident, the match continued and All Blacks scored the penalty. According to the report, when the match was left with only two minutes, one of the home team’s supporters drove onto the pitch, allegedly trying to hit the lone referee. Sikhwivhilu said that when Musekwa realised that his life was in danger, he stopped the match. The supporters then started to assault the referee and his two assistants. Fans also started to smash his car with stones and poured liquor over the referee and his assistants. The captain of the home team protected the match officials until they escaped and went straight to Thohoyandou police station to report the case.

Sikhwivhilu said that United Artist will appear before a disciplinary committee next week. Capt Mashudu Malelo of the Thohoyandou SAPS confirmed that a case of assault had been opened and that the police were still investigating the case.