Zifa bans referee for 6 years

TWO Zifa Northern Region match officials have been banned from all football activities for periods ranging from six to 10 years after being found guilty of trying to fix results.

Match commissioner Moffat Tembo and Class One referee Washington Mafirovanda were handed 10-year and six-year bans respectively.

Tembo's ban became effective from October 15 and is set to end on October 15 2024. Mafirovanda's took effect on September 1 and will end on August 30, 2019.

"We have been preaching the gospel of anti-corruption in football but some people probably thought we were joking. For the record we have 24-hour surveillance systems on match-fixing, we have intelligence apparatus at work and people must stand warned that we are going to be ruthless on culprits," Zifa communications manager Xolisani Gwesela told Chronicle Sport yesterday.

Tembo and Mafirovanda were tried and found guilty by the referees' disciplinary panel chaired by retired referee Brighton Mudzamiri.

According to a communiqué from Zifa, Tembo was charged in terms of paragraph 17.0 of the Zifa standing orders read in conjunction with the Zifa referees committee code of conduct and the Zimbabwe Football Association rules and regulations which state that; "It is an offence to facilitate or accept any favours calculating to influence the result of a match to which one has been appointed, including matches to which one has not been appointed."

The referees committee rules and regulations impose a ban in the range of two to 10 years for an offence of this magnitude.

During the period of banishment, Tembo is barred from attending all Zifa sanctioned matches as the association feels his presence at these matches is likely to influence the outcome of those matches. He is also banned from interacting with any soccer referees anywhere in the country.

Upon expiry of his period of suspension, if he wishes to bounce back into football, he will do so through an application to the Zifa board.

The disciplinary committee heard that Tembo attempted to drag the match officials during a World Navi Northern Region Division One match between Chegutu Pirates and Ngezi Platinum into match fixing when he offered the referees a $300 bribe to assist Chegutu Pirates to win.

Instead, the referees notified the match commissioner of the day, Obert Mamvura, who is also the Zifa referees' desk manager and the case was directed to the disciplinary committee.

Tembo in his defence, claimed he was under pressure from unnamed Chegutu politicians who were desperately trying to save Chegutu Pirates from relegation.

The disciplinary committee applauded the act of honesty and bravery exhibited by the match day officials namely, Nomore Musundire, Asthma Mataya and John Maruve in recognising, resisting and reporting attempts to manipulate matches.

Mafirovanda was also found guilty of contravening the same paragraph as Tembo and conditions of his ban are similar to those of the banished former match commissioner.

He was found guilty of attempting to solicit for financial benefits from a Flame Lily official in return for favourable decisions for the team after he was notified of his appointment as the second assistant referee for a match pitting Flame Lily and Seven Flames.

Mafirovanda's deed came to light when Flame Lily officials, realising that the former's decisions were biased, lodged a complaint with the referees committee.

The accused is alleged to have exchanged WhatsApp messages with a Flame Lily official only identified as Mutame suggesting that he would convince the centre official to throw favours for Flame Lily.

The referee's Class One certificate was revoked and if he wishes to resume officiating at the end of his ban, he would have to apply again. If his application is approved he will then attend a refresher course.

The referees' committee expressed gratitude to all individuals whose input has brought to light criminal activities that maim the beautiful game.

"The committee would like to thank Flame Lily and its officials for exposing the cancerous trend that left our game degenerated a few years back.
"At the same time we encourage other club officials to flush out those who are in the habit of engaging in corrupt activities so as to exorcise the match-fixing ghost," the judgment reads.

Both judgments stressed the vitality of setting precedents for future offenders while nipping match-fixing tendencies in the bud since the Zimbabwean football fraternity is still nursing the scars of the Asiagate scandal.