Mr Rooi Mulaudzi, a referee who was officiating during the SAFA Vhembe Total Cup match between Ngwenani Young Chiefs and Tshifhire Northern Brothers last Saturday at the Tshifulanani Stadium, was allegedly assaulted shortly after the game.

According to the assistant referee, Mr Mphireni Mphephu, the supporters of Northern Brothers followed them to the dressing room and broke down the door. They then pulled Mulaudzi out and started beating him with a beer bottle. He was left lying unconscious on the ground. Mphephu said the Brothers supporters accused the referee of being biased.

One of Northern Brothers’ supporters, Marooi Muvhulawa, alleges that the referee approached them to pay a bribe, should they want to win the match. When they refused to pay the bribe, the referee became one-sided in his rulings. He appealed to league officials to visit the matches, so that they could witness the referee’s incompetence.

Saturday's match ended in a one-all draw and a winner had to be decided by means of a penalty shoot-out. Young Chiefs eventually won the match 6-4. Chaos erupted after the referee blew his final whistle.

The referee, Mr Rooi Mulaudzi, said the supporters of the visiting team beat him and took his R370 match fee, his stop watch, driver's licence, bank cards and T-shirt. He said he couldn't recognise the persons beating him, because there were many of them. He was later admitted to the Tshilidzini Hospital and was only discharged the following day.

The SAFA Vhembe SAB league chairperson of the competition committee, Mr Mulimisi Muneri, condemned the barbaric way of beating a referee. He appealed to the teams to write a report and notify the league administrators if they were not satisfied with the refereeing.

Vuwani SAPS spokesperson W/O Elijar Malatjie confirmed that the referee had opened a case of assault. The police are still investigating because the referee could not identify the people who had beaten him.