Premier Soccer League (PSL) chief executive officer Rodwell Thabe says the league remains concerned about the growing number of complaints over refereeing standards but insists that engagement and collaboration, rather than confrontation, are key to improving officiating in Zimbabwean football.
Speaking on the ongoing criticism directed at match officials, Thabe revealed that he has been invited by the ZIFA Referees Committee to meet referees in Bulawayo on August 7, where discussions will focus on performance reviews, stakeholder expectations, and ways to improve officiating standards.
“I'll be in Bulawayo on the 7th of August to interact with the referees, to give them our expectations, the expectations of the fans and the league, and review their performances together with their superiors so that we can move forward,” said Thabe.
The PSL boss acknowledged that while the league does not appoint referees, it cannot ignore concerns raised by clubs and supporters.
“But as you have said, we are not responsible for the appointment of referees. That doesn't mean that, as the league principal, I must shy away from responsibility,” he said.
Refereeing standards have come under intense scrutiny this season, with several clubs and coaches accusing match officials of making costly errors.
The controversy has prompted ZIFA to suspend a number of referees and assistant referees whose performances were deemed below the required standard. In recent months, several match officials have been suspended after reviews found that some of their decisions materially affected the outcomes of PSL matches.
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Thabe said the concerns raised by clubs are legitimate, particularly when errors result in the loss of valuable points.
“Many of our clubs are complaining about performances, sometimes week in and week out. Some of the mistakes that happen cost teams valuable points, which are irreversible,” he said.
However, he also urged football stakeholders to recognise the positive work done by referees.
“I think in some instances we've also been very unfair to them. There are instances where they've been very correct and have made the correct decisions. But, as usual, we choose to focus on one or two incidents,” said Thabe.
The PSL chief added that the league may eventually need to explore technological solutions such as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system to reduce controversial decisions.
“As we move forward, we need to start considering the possibility of embracing technological advancements like VAR to help them. We see these mistakes happening across the entire world. We are not saying it's acceptable, but we are concerned as a league,” he said.
Thabe said continuous engagement between the PSL and the ZIFA Referees Committee remains crucial in building confidence in officiating and improving the overall quality of the local game.
“I hope we can be able to support them, and they can be able to improve. Once we have an improved ecosystem, then football will fly higher,” he said.
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