Former PSL referee calls for independent officials instead of costly VAR

Former PSL and FIFA referee Dr Errol Sweeney has proposed making referees independent and placing the South African refereeing department under experienced retired officials as a practical alternative while plans for VAR remain delayed.

The proposed VAR rollout is estimated to cost about R82 million, with funding coming from the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture. But Sweeney, who was the PSL’s Head of Referees in 1996, believes improvements to the structure and management of refereeing could be achieved without spending millions of rands.

His comments come as the League marks its 30th anniversary. Sweeney said he was surprised that referees had still not become professional since the PSL was established.

“I am kind of surprised because the PSL has come in leaps and bounds and for the benefit of those who are there, driving us on and on, getting sponsorships and so on,” Sweeney said in an interview with KickOff.

Sweeney, who was known during his refereeing career as ‘The Hanging Judge’, believes the PSL and SAFA should explore additional sponsorship specifically for refereeing.

He said referees should then operate under the authority of a suitably qualified Head of Referees, rather than being influenced by administrators or what he described as “soccer politicians”.

“I can’t see why they can’t find extra sponsorship for refereeing and when they do, I hope it’s soon. Then the referees must be under the charge of the Head of Referees who knows what he does, has the experience and the soccer politicians should stay out of it.

The former official said refereeing should be left to referees.

“Refereeing should be like the judiciary in any country,” states Sweeney.

“The judiciary gets paid by the state, but they are independent from the state when they are making their decisions. Referees should be independent of SAFA in the case of South Africa.”

Sweeney also proposed that retired referees should be involved in identifying and developing officials. One panel, he said, could assess established referees and determine who was capable of performing at the highest level, while another could focus on emerging officials.

He said the age profile of referees was already becoming younger, with officials qualifying for FIFA badges in their twenties.

“Guys are qualifying for FIFA badges now in their 20s, 25, 26.”

Sweeney cited Michael Oliver as an example of how early promotion can help referees build experience. The English official, whom Sweeney described as probably the best referee in England, was included on the FIFA list at the age of 26.

“Michael Oliver, probably the top referee in England, was in the FIFA list at 26. Referees should be younger to gain experience,” says Sweeney.

He argued that officials should not be waiting until their late thirties or forties before reaching the highest level, saying that was too old to begin building an international career.

Sweeney believes younger, physically fit referees who are motivated by the responsibility of officiating, rather than financial rewards or status, would ultimately benefit from the opportunities available to them.

“If you get younger, fit guys, who are there to referee because they want to referee, not there for the money, not there for the glory and if they do that, all other benefits will come,” the veteran refereeing expert went on.

Those benefits could include selection for the FIFA list, international travel, CAF appointments and the possibility of being invited to officiate at World Cups.

“The benefits of being on the FIFA list, getting international trips, CAF, and raising their profile and being invited to World Cups and the like. But you need to get guys who want to referee for the sake of refereeing, not guys who are doing it because they need the money,” Sweeney added.