18 September 2018 – The South African Football Association (SAFA) would like to condemn in the strongest terms the (verbal) attack on referee Victor Hlungwani by Black Leopards owner Mr David Thidiela following the home side’s loss to Bloemfontein Celtics on Sunday, 16 September 2018.
As SAFA, we are disappointed by Mr Thidiela’s flagrant abuse of the match official, an attack peppered by open tribal undertones.
This behaviour by the Leopards owner is against the basic norm of a football match as enshrined by the world governing body FIFA’s Fair Play. Any intimidation on match officials by a club owner will, under no circumstances be tolerated.
We have requested the referee, Mr Hlungwani to prepare his report upon which we will begin instituting disciplinary measures against Mr Thidiela.