Scandal! Is SAFA's referees chief helping Orlando Pirates?
A refereeing scandal is gathering momentum in South African football following the Soweto derby.
Details: South African referee Luxolo Badi has come under intense scrutiny after screenshots of alleged old social media posts suggesting he previously supported Orlando Pirates circulated online. The controversy intensified following the recent Soweto derby against Kaizer Chiefs, with rival supporters questioning the official's impartiality. However, the authenticity of the screenshots and any alleged misconduct have not been established.
According to Soccer Laduma, journalists approached SAFA head of referees Abdul Ebrahim to clarify whether officials are allowed to support particular clubs, how potential conflicts of interest are handled and whether referees must declare their allegiances before receiving match appointments.
However, Ebrahim avoided directly addressing the allegations surrounding Badi. Instead, he insisted that the public needed better education about football's laws, criticizing SuperSport and SABC for apparently lacking the time or resources to provide it. He even suggested that newspapers should publish the laws of the game so everyone could better understand football, concluding his response with the words:
"I am disappointed."
His response left the central questions unanswered. SAFA has not clarified in this exchange whether referees must disclose past club loyalties or what safeguards apply when potential conflicts of interest arise. Having supported a club in the past does not, by itself, establish that a referee has acted unfairly.
It is worth noting that Orlando Pirates defeated Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 on October 31. The victory extended their unbeaten league run to 22 matches, including 17 wins and five draws, the club's longest such streak in the PSL era.
Reminder: Incredible run! Orlando Pirates set a club record after beating Kaizer Chiefs
Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
