Golden Lions refs go on strike

All 10 Saturday’s Pirates Grand Challenge semifinal matches in the Golden Lions’ leagues, from first team to Under-19 team level, did not take place due to protest action by the appointed referees.

No official statement was made after the 20 participating teams in the various leagues had to return home, but an experienced club referee said the action was taken to underline the abuse referees had to endure at all levels.
 
“We are tired of being sworn at by schoolboy players and their parents; being assaulted by supporters and players during and after matches; to have our cars’ wheels slashed after a match and the likes. We’ve simply had enough.

“This is not a strike, but an action to bring our plight into the open and to try and illicit some action from administrators and supporters to make our life a little easier,” the ref said.

Ten matches at the various levels were to have taken place on Saturday.

The scheduled first team semifinal fixtures were between Pirates and the University of Johannesburg at Wits, while the two sides from the Leopards, Pukke and Rustenburg Platinum, were to have been  played in Krugersdorp.

Saturday’s matches in the Senior Grand Challenge were also affected.