Referee Solly Mohalebeng Allegedly Assaulted in SASOL Women's League Game Between Mathaithai FC and Blue Birds

• Yet another referee has been assaulted on a South African field as tensions spilled over during a match
• This time, it was Solly Mohalebeng who had to face the wrath of emotional spectators
• Mohalebeng, a policeman, was assualted during a SASOL Women's League match between Mathaithai FC and Blue Birds Ladies Academy FC

More referees are being attacked in South Africa as players, coaches and spectators vent their frustration at the decisions they make.

Referee Solly Mohalebeng is the latest match official to be abused during a match. He was allegedly assaulted in a SASOL Women's League Gauteng Stream A match between Mathaithai FC and Blue Birds Ladies Academy FC in Atteridgeville, Tshwane.

The Daily Sun reported that the match, which was tied at 2-2, was abandoned when Mohalebeng, a policeman, awarded a contentious penalty to Mathaithai. Allegedly, Blue Birds assistant coach Bulelani Maphanjwa grabbed and slapped him in the face.

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However, the article reported that Blue Birds manager Katlego Malaka refuted these allegations, instead saying there was no physical assault. He added that there was manhandling between players of both teams, before the technical staff and those from management ran onto the pitch to try and control a volatile situation.

Malaka said:

"Players thought that it was an offside, but the referee pointed to the spot, which also shocked the opposition players. Suddenly, the official was was surrounded by players. The penalty was not the first dubious of the day.

"At the first, he gave some dubious decisions and I protested from the bench. Again when I protested, I was flashed with a red card and went to the grandstands, sat with the match commissioner who was also shocked."

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Malawi coach Mario Marinica criticises referees harshly following the Flames' Cosafa Cup elimination

The quality of refereeing at the 2022 COSAFA Cup has been called into question.

As reported on Sports Brief, Malawi coach Mario Marinica has taken aim at the referees who took charge of The Flame's two matches thus far in the competition. They were defeated 2-1 in their first game against Lesotho, before a 1-1 draw against Eswatini last Friday saw them being eliminated from quarterfinal contention with one more match to play (Mauritius, who they defeated 2-0 yesterday).

It was also reported how Marinica said poor refereeing across the continent is why Africa had little representation at FIFA events across the world.