17 February 2023 – The South African Football Association (SAFA) has appointed illustrious former referee Victor Gomes chair of SAFA Referees Committee.

He takes over from SAFA vice-president Natasha Tsichlas. The appointment of Gomes is in line with world football governing body FIFA’s requirement that the chair of the Referees Committee must be a former elite referee.

At a SAFA NEC meeting held at Radisson Hotel in Kempton Park on Friday, 17 February 2023, the NEC mandated CEO Advocate Tebogo Motlanthe to refer media enquiries from Amabhungane to the SAFA Ethics Committee headed by retired Judge Sisi Khampepe.

According to Advocate Motlanthe this move will put to rest persistent questions regarding SAFA’s standing once and for all.

The NEC said by referring the matter to the SAFA Ethics Committee, it will look into whether the media group had violated the Press Code, defamed individuals and the Association and whether the aforementioned journalists were conniving with disgruntled politicians.

Meanwhile, SAFA new chair of the Referees Committee, Victor Gomes said he was humbled and touched by his latest appointment.

‘’I want to thank SAFA and especially the President (Dr Danny Jordaan) for the trust entrusted on me with this appointment,’’ said Gomes.

‘’I will put same commitment in this job with the same professionalims I showed during my days as the referee,’’ he added saying implementing VAR was one of the several priorities which he wanted to get down to.

Gomes retired soon after the FIFA World Cup in Qatar having achieved almost everything any elite referee can dream of.

He handled the AFCON final between Senegal and Egypt in Cameroon before handling the CAF Champions League final between Al Ahly and Wydad AC at Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca in Morocco which the host club won 2-0.

He was one of the few African referees appointed to officiate at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Advocate Motlanthe said SAFA had been approached by CAF to host the Schools tournament that he (Motlanthe) confirmed will take place in Durban in April.