The assistant referee who made an incorrect offside call in an Absa Premiership match between Black Leopards and Golden Arrows last month has started his 12-week programme in a lower division and is currently still getting paid.
Siyanda Zibi was demoted by the SAFA Referee's Review Committee after incorrectly disallowing a goal in the 1-1 draw at the Thohoyandou Stadium last month, but the panel has not recommended that his stipend is withdrawn.
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Tenda Masikhwa, the head of referees at SAFA, confirmed to the Siya crew that Zibi has indeed begun his "rehabilitation" to understand the laws of the game.
"He started his programme on January 27 and it will run until April 19. The panel has not recommended that he not be paid his stipend, so as things stand he is still getting paid as per the agreement at the beginning of the season when a list of referees for the season was drafted," Masikhwa said.
Zibi was the second assistant to referee Siyabulela Qunta on January 19, and following his error, Masikhwa wrote a letter to the PSL to apologise for the costly mistake. The match official will not be involved in any of the National Soccer League matches until his programme is complete. He is likely to then be reviewed.
