Match officials geared for 2024/5 season

The South African Football Association (SAFA) referees department have concluded the 2024/25 pre-season workshop with the match officials who went through a grueling two weeks of theory and practical sessions. The workshop took place in Pretoria over the past 14 days.

The match officials’ workshop was held over two phases with the second group concluding their programme on Tuesday (30 July 2024).

A total of 60 match officials participated in the workshop and these match officials will form part of the panel that will take part in the 2024/25 soccer calendar.

Among the sessions they went through were the latest Fifa Laws of the game, Assessment Report Rubric System, Teamwork Game Management and Integrity Sessions. As in any match officials’ workshop, they also underwent rigorous fitness tests ahead of the new season.

Speaking to Safa.net SAFA Head of Referees Adbul Ebrahim said that they were looking forward to the upcoming season and believes that the match official are fully prepared to deliver the highest standards expected of them.

“We are always crucified by clubs and supporters, and in most cases unfairly so, but we believe we always deliver the best decisions during a match,’’ said Ebrahim.

“As a former match official, I understand the pressures that comes with this space, but I believe that our match officials are used to pressure situations. They understand the laws of the game and always give their best, this is regardless of the complaints we encounter from fans and other stakeholders.

© SAFA