In light of what happened yesterday in the week 29 fixture involving Kabwe Warriors and Nkana FC regarding the referee it’s imperative that FAZ appoints highly competent referees to handle big games especially when teams are trying to catch up with the top 4 teams or trying to fight relegation.
Truth be told, Kabwe Warriors were robbed 3 points due to poor officiating.
Clement Mwape missed a penalty in the 27th minute but his goal was disallowed after the officials ruled that Tandi Mwape’s long throw in missed everyone in the Nkana penalty area.
TV replays show clearly that Clement Mwape touched the ball with his head before it went into the Nkana net.
Those 2 points dropped could determine whether Warriors survives or not
It is becoming common practice in the Zambian Super League this season where teams are robbed of clear goals. Buildcon are one such team that have been robbed of goals that could have seen them up there in the league.
Therefore, what solutions can be made?
Should referees continue getting away with it or should they be reprimanded?
Is the referee’s decision final?
FIFA have already set a precedence when it ordered that the 2018 World Cup Qualifier between South Africa and Senegal be replayed after a controversially awarded penalty by Joseph Lamperty.
Should VAR be introduced in Live games? Is it even possible in the Zambian League?
However not all games are LiVE on television so Video Assistant Referees might not work entirely.
What other options do we have if VAR is not attainable?
African Leagues could go the cheapest and similar route in the UEFA Champions League where a goal assistant referee is posted behind every goal.
It may not be 100 percent but it help reduce calamitous decisions.
The Centre referee and his lines men might not spot an incident but chances are the goal assistant referee will spot it.
A split second could be the difference between a team winning the league and going down.
