League referees cry foul
Feb 17, 2008
FOOTBALL referees are worried at the rate in which FUFA is suspending them for what they have called simple mistakes.
By Swalley Kenyi and Roberto Bukenya
FOOTBALL referees are worried at the rate in which FUFA is suspending them for what they have called simple mistakes.
The football body FUFA recently suspended Michael Isabirye and Festus Kirumira for a year and Liburd Masembe for two months. 40 referees handle the Super League.
The referees argued that FUFA was too harsh on them and want the federation to consider demoting the victims instead of suspending them.
Isabirye and Kirumira were suspended for what FUFA called wrong decisions due to unfitness, while Masembe is serving a ban for withdrawing a red card he had given a player moments earlier.
At the fitness test at Namboole yesterday, the referees explained that Masembe’s decision was within the rules of the game.
His suspension runs out on April 30, two weeks to the end of the league, but referees standing committee secretary Yusuf Kamulegeya insisted he would not officiate the second round unless he applied for a special test. Kirumira and Isabirye will miss the entire next season.
Committee boss Haruna Mpangire said the disciplinary actions were aimed at fighting match-fixing.
“We hear some of you are on (clubs) payrolls. Prove of cases of bribery will lead to life bans,†Mpangire warned.
Mohammed Segonga, fresh from the Nations Cup finals, was exempted from the test.
Samuel Kayondo, Fred Mufta and Yahya Kiti — away in Burundi, and Dennis Batte, Brian Nsubuga, Hillary Kimbugwe and Nelson Mubanda, who were reported sick, will do the test later.
Meanwhile, all super division league match officials will attend a refresher course at Mengo February 23.
According to Mpangire, commissioners who miss the course will be dropped from the list of officials who will handle the second round of the Super League that kick-off on Thursday.
“Missing the course will mean automatic self elimination,†said Mpangire.
FOOTBALL referees are worried at the rate in which FUFA is suspending them for what they have called simple mistakes.
The football body FUFA recently suspended Michael Isabirye and Festus Kirumira for a year and Liburd Masembe for two months. 40 referees handle the Super League.
The referees argued that FUFA was too harsh on them and want the federation to consider demoting the victims instead of suspending them.
Isabirye and Kirumira were suspended for what FUFA called wrong decisions due to unfitness, while Masembe is serving a ban for withdrawing a red card he had given a player moments earlier.
At the fitness test at Namboole yesterday, the referees explained that Masembe’s decision was within the rules of the game.
His suspension runs out on April 30, two weeks to the end of the league, but referees standing committee secretary Yusuf Kamulegeya insisted he would not officiate the second round unless he applied for a special test. Kirumira and Isabirye will miss the entire next season.
Committee boss Haruna Mpangire said the disciplinary actions were aimed at fighting match-fixing.
“We hear some of you are on (clubs) payrolls. Prove of cases of bribery will lead to life bans,†Mpangire warned.
Mohammed Segonga, fresh from the Nations Cup finals, was exempted from the test.
Samuel Kayondo, Fred Mufta and Yahya Kiti — away in Burundi, and Dennis Batte, Brian Nsubuga, Hillary Kimbugwe and Nelson Mubanda, who were reported sick, will do the test later.
Meanwhile, all super division league match officials will attend a refresher course at Mengo February 23.
According to Mpangire, commissioners who miss the course will be dropped from the list of officials who will handle the second round of the Super League that kick-off on Thursday.
“Missing the course will mean automatic self elimination,†said Mpangire.