Cecil Gwezera, the referee overseeing the Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final match between Simba Bhora and Highlanders at Wadzanai Stadium in Shamva on Sunday, has reportedly received a six-month suspension.
Zondzi Ngosana, one of Gwezera’s assistant referees for the match, has also been suspended for the same duration following the match’s abandonment just over 10 minutes before the final whistle.
The match ended prematurely when Highlanders players walked off in protest against Gwezera’s decision to award a penalty to Simba Bhora.
Highlanders argued that the incident leading to the penalty occurred outside the box, a claim corroborated by video evidence showing that the contact between Tinashe Balakasi and Peter Muduhwa took place well beyond the 18-yard line. 
The ZIFA Referees Committee suspended the two match officials for poorly handling, with Ngosana being found wanting on two aspects of officiating — “proximity to the incident and angle of viewing.”
ZIFA Referees Committee chairman Norman Matemera declined to comment on Gwezera’s suspension.
A retired referee, speaking on condition of anonymity, told <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/red-card-for-simba-bhora-bosso-ref/">The Herald</a> that the match could have been salvaged if the match commissioner had discreetly reviewed video evidence of the incident and discussed it with the officials involved. Said the retired referee:
<blockquote>
The match could have been saved with the referee correctly awarding that team a free-kick outside the box and sending off the Highlanders defender for denying an obvious scoring opportunity.
I am surprised that Gwezera did not exercise his authority by demanding that Ariel Sibanda go to the Bosso goal for the penalty to be taken.
If he was adamant that he would not take his position, Gwezera should have issued him a first yellow card, and after that a second that would have seen him leave the pitch.
He would have waited then to see the Highlanders’ reaction whether they would bring on another goalkeeper to replace Sibanda.
Perhaps he feared that he had already erred and hence could not take further action.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, Highlanders could face a ban from participating in next season’s Chibuku Super Cup. The rules and regulations state that “if a team refuses to continue playing or leaves the stadium or field of play before the end of the match, that team shall be banned from participating in the next edition of the Chibuku Super Cup.”
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

The Simba Bhora vs. Highlanders match referee, Cecil Gwezera, has been suspended for six months along with one of his assistant referees. The match ended early due to a controversial penalty decision by Gwezera, which Highlanders disagreed with. The ZIFA Referees Committee found the officials' handling of the situation was poor. A retired referee suggested the match could have been saved if handled differently. Highlanders may face a ban from the next Chibuku Super Cup for their actions.

Simba Bhora Vs. Highlanders Match Referee, Cecil Gwezera, Hit with Six-Month Suspension

The ZIFA Referees Committee has suspended assistant referee Zondzi Ngosana for six weeks following the Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final match between Simba Bhora and Highlanders at Wadzanai Stadium on Sunday.
His suspension will be in effect from match week 27 to 32. The match was abandoned in the second half after Highlanders players protested a controversial penalty awarded to the hosts for a foul that occurred outside the 18-yard box.
The referees’ committee concluded that Ngosana was not positioned correctly, resulting in his failure to see that the foul happened outside the box. The suspension letter reads:
<blockquote>
THE ZIFA Referees Committee hereby notifies you that you have been suspended from officiating soccer matches for the next six matches.
The suspension has been occasioned by your low standard of officiating in the match, Simba Bhora versus Highlanders at Wadzanai Stadium, Shamva, on 22 September 2024.
In the match, the referee awarded a penalty to Simba Bhora for a foul which occurred outside the penalty area. As the assistant, you should have been marking the penalty area line, which is parallel to the goal line.
That way, you would have been able to see that the ball was out of the penalty area. That decision impacted on the match. The match was abandoned.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

The ZIFA Referees Committee suspended linesman Zondzi Ngosana for six weeks for a mistake in a soccer match between Simba Bhora and Highlanders. The match was abandoned because the linesman did not see a foul that happened outside the penalty area. The committee said Ngosana was not in the right position to make the correct call. He will not be able to officiate games from week 27 to 32. Players protested a penalty awarded to Simba Bhora, and the match had to be stopped. The linesman's mistake impacted the game and led to its abandonment.

Chibuku Super Cup Latest News

Latest Jobs