Delayed flight led to Sweeney’s surprise appointment as PSL referees chief

With the Premier Soccer League marking its 30th anniversary this month, former referee Dr. Errol Sweeney has recalled the chaotic incident that ultimately led to him becoming the organisation’s Head of Referees in 1996.

Sweeney told KickOff that he was appointed to the role after helping resolve a crisis involving a delayed flight, a scheduled PSL match and a frantic search for assistant referees. The episode also involved Trevor Phillips, the late PSL chief executive, who initially suggested dismissing the referee responsible for the match-day problem.

The former official said the incident demonstrated how far the PSL has progressed from its early organisational and administrative difficulties, including during the new era under Phillips.

At the time, Sweeney had previously served as a match commissioner. He said the crisis began when a referee contacted him from an airport to say that the match officials travelling to the fixture would not arrive in time for the 20:00 kick-off.

“For me to be made Head of Referees (previously a match commissioner), a referee called me from the airport and said ‘Our flight (with other match officials) is delayed, we’re not going to make it on time for kickoff’. The flight was 5 O’clock, which is far too late for an 8pm kickoff. He said the flight would not take off until 7pm,” Sweeney said.

The match was due to take place at Kings Park, but the appointed officials were still stranded. Sweeney told the referee to return home before contacting former referee Raymond Rogers.

He asked Rogers to travel to the stadium and take charge of the game, while also finding linesmen on the way. The emergency arrangement reflected the informal processes surrounding some PSL fixtures during that period.

“Then I said, ‘Go home, there’s no point’. Then I got hold of Raymond Rogers (former referee) and I said can you go to Kings Park and take over the game, pick up some linesmen on your way. It was very haphazard. I said if anybody asks, don’t say anything.

Once the match had been completed, Sweeney informed Phillips about what had happened and explained that replacement officials had been found, meaning the PSL fixture could go ahead.

“When the match was done, I called Trevor Phillips and said here’s the problem but I’ve arranged other referees to do the game, the game will go ahead, mind you, this is a PSL game. Trevor said, ‘Fire the referee!’ I said, ‘No, you can’t fire the referee Trevor, it was not his fault, the fault is with the league,” Sweeney explained.

Sweeney argued that the travel arrangements had been unreasonable, given the distance and the time of the kick-off. A 17:00 flight for a match beginning at 20:00 left too little margin for delays.

“Because flying to Durban on a 5pm flight for an 8pm kickoff is ridiculous’. He said, ‘Oh, what do you suggest?’ I said, ‘In future, when flying for a night match, make sure that the flight is no later than 2pm and if they are flying for a 3pm match, their flight should not be later than 9am, if not, go the night before.

Phillips accepted the recommendation and then offered Sweeney a position within the league. That conversation resulted in Sweeney taking responsibility for the PSL’s refereeing department.

“He said, ‘That’s a great idea,’ I’ll never forget his next words, he said: ‘Why don’t you come work for the League and take over the referees?’ That’s when I joined the PSL as Head of Referees,” ‘The Hanging Judge’ revealed.