Written by Neville Huxham, on 09-11-2007 19:26

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In what must be a first in the refereeing fraternity SA Manager of Referees Andre Watson suspended two referees last week. Amidst the chaos surrounding the debacle with the Jake White saga, Watson’s announcement went unnoticed by the media at large. Deon Van Blommestein and Louis Mzomba were suspended for 12 months (nine months suspended) following an apparent incorrect touch judge decision in the Currie Cup semi-final between the Bulls and the Cheetahs. SARU stated that their actions bordered on negligence of their primary duties as touch judges.

Just before half time Derrick Hougaard kicked a long-range penalty from the half way line. According to SARU, after studying a tape/DVD, the ball passed just over the crossbar. The two touch judges, each perfectly positioned, signalled the ball dead as it crossed the dead ball line and play continued. The score was 6-6 at half time.

In my opinion the view on TV gives the impression that the kick was over, but the actions of everybody closest to the incident were that it was not. Even Willem De Waal by letting the ball go dead implied that it was not over. If it was over, surely De Waal would have caught the ball or at least stopped it with some part of his body.

This suspension has shocked the refereeing community to its core. I am the first person to say that there should be some sort of punishment for shocking performances, but this is ridiculous taking into consideration what has transpired during the past year. Let’s refresh our memory.

James Leckie gave a disappointing performance on touch when he allowed a quick throw in with the wrong ball that led to a try that cost the Brumbies the game against the Blues in this years Super 14. The ridiculous sin binning of Anton Leonard that cost the Bulls the game against the Force in the Super 14 was by Marius Jonker, touch judge. Even Tappe Henning (IRB selector) openly criticized Jonker at half time.

The blatant non-action by Lyndon Bray in the final of the Super 14 for a knock on that cost the Sharks the title when Bryan Habana scored. Johan Meeuweson (TMO) awarding Akona Ndungane a try in the Currie Cup when he clearly lost the ball in the act of scoring

Michael Cupido (TMO) cost Western Province a place the semi final of this years Currie Cup when he awarded a try to Derrick Kuun (Bulls) when he lost the ball over the try line. The score denied Province a bonus point (26-17 final score) and pushed the Bulls above Western Province on the Currie Cup log. I could keep on going but that is not the point.

What has happened here is that the unilateral action taken by Watson and his "review committee" is against every principal that we stand for in a democratic society. Firstly the referees did not have an opportunity to defend themselves. They were informed by Watson that their performance was under review and were informed of their suspension on Friday last week.

Secondly I was told that the SA referee executive was not informed nor had any knowledge about the suspension. There was also no decision passed on what punishment would be appropriate to be passed on to referees that do not meet the review committee’s standard. The "review committee" is represented by Andre Watson, Steve Meintjies (Chairman SA referees), Neville Heilbron(SARU) and Cristo Ferreira SARU.

Thirdly, Watson knew of the impending allegation against Mzomba but still went ahead and appointed him for the final of the Currie Cup the following weekend. How absurd is that?

According to the executive member the "committee" does not have the power to suspend a referee. If the executive has not been informed or the review committee does not have the authority, and a disciplinary hearing was not held, how can they then be suspended? Can it be that Watson the decision on his own?

This then begs the question: why these two individuals? Could it be because Loius Mzomba reported Watson to the Minister of Sport for his lack of transformation and undermining of black referees? This infuriated Watson and he had several meetings with Mzomba in the past season. This seems like payback.

Could it be that Watson has had his knife out for Van Blommestein since the start of the season when his name was highlighted on the SARU panels? It was suggested this be his last season as he was deemed to be too old for the top 12 panel. Ironically Watson withdrew his remark later when he was informed that there were five referees older than Van Blommestein in the top 12.

Here is the real problem for me and mark my words: it has been rumored by many that Watson has a special affinity for a young referee from the Free State called Jaco Peyper. Watson has been looking to push him into the top 12 the whole year and this situation has opened a door for him. Watson has already replaced Gareth Lloyd-Jones with Peyper on the IRB Sevens circuit to jump-start his career. If this is the case then we have a real problem at SARU.

It seems that some referees get treated differently. A prime example is Willie Roos who ended up not being assessed or given a performance review in the last half of the season because the assessors apparently dented his confidence. What crap. The fact is that Willie has messed up so many times by himself that even Watson won’t be able to save him.

In my 15 years of involvement in refereeing at the highest level this is the worst abuse of power that I have ever come across. I am sure if we suspend every referee that makes a mistake next year we will have no one left half way through the season. It will be interesting to see if Van Blommestein and Mzomba appeal their suspension. If it were up to me I would ask my fellow referees to go on strike as it is the obvious thing to do in South Africa if a fellow comrade gets wrongly convicted.

We must not forget that these referees are amateurs and to suspend them and not follow the constitution or the due process, means that Watson is failing in his primary duties as an administrator. He has pushed the envelope too far this time and it is time to go, for there is an old proverb that states: "to see a man’s real character, give him power".

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ML Katzenellenbogen

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