The days are numbered for corrupt or incompetent referees who are currently officiating in the SAB and Vodacom Promotional League.

This was revealed by the chairperson of the technical committee in the Vhembe Regional Association, Mr Ephraim Singo.

Singo said that his office received adverse reports from the clubs and other concerned football lovers about referees who were alleged to be either corrupt or incompetent. He said that they were aware of the fact that there were referees who phoned clubs to tell them that they had been appointed to officiate at their matches.

According to him, there are referees who are so corrupt that they are not even shy to ask for bribes from the clubs. When asked to reveal the identity of the culprits, Singo said they would only do that when they expelled wrongdoers. He reiterated the fact that running a soccer team was an expensive exercise, saying the clubs should be given value for their money.

He blatantly blamed the referees for the abandonment of matches, which has become fashionable in the SAB League these days. He indicated that there were referees who are physically unfit, apart from the fact that they did not want to develop themselves academically.

Singo added that they conducted refereeing clinics at Bungeni Stadium, Rabali Stadium and Thohoyandou Stadium every Thursday. He stressed the fact that referees who did not attend the clinics would be removed from the panel.