Referees boss Jashua Tigere is standing on shacky ground and could soon be a casualty of low officiating standards if not also blatant bias in the Premier Soccer League.
Last week Zifa announced the suspension of three referees over incompetence as the association, for the first time made public names of banned referees.
Previously, incompetent and biased referees suffered their fate as an in-house issue, but Zifa want to show intolerence towards low standards of officiating and bias.
Lawrence Zimondi, Nelson Meke and Tichaona Mbire were suspended for periods ranging between four and six weeks.
Tigere's son Tichaona was suspended after he fell foul in Match Day One and other match officials have been suspended in between.
The referees have been under a lot of scrutiny with coaches filing complaints week in week out.
Just as a case in point, Former Kwekwe United coach Saul Chaminuka almost melted into tears after he watched his side surrender points against Simba Bhora as he argued that the referee influenced the result a couple of weeks ago.
StandardSport has learnt that Tigere is set to lose his job as referees boss due to the chaos.
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According to the source, Tigere has been fingered as to be liable for the low refereeing standards and blatant bias in officiating and he is good as gone.
In their announcement of the suspension of three officials this week Zifa said;
"Zifa wishes to inform stakeholders and the general public of the suspension of three match officials due to performances that fell significantly short of the standards expected in top-tier matches,” the association announced in a statement.
“Following a thorough review and assessment by the Zifa Referees Committee, the following decisions have been taken: Referee Zimondi has been suspended from officiating Premier League matches from Match day 11 to Match day 14 (four weeks).
“This decision follows substandard officiating in two matches: Highlanders vs Caps United on April 13, 2025 at Barbourfields Stadium, Ngezi Platinum vs Yadah on April 30, 2025 at Baobab Stadium.”
Added Zifa: “Referee Meke has also been suspended from officiating Premier League matches from Match day 11 to Match day 14 (four weeks). The suspension stems from poor performance during the Scottland vs Herentals match played on May 1, 2025 at Rufaro Stadium.
“Referee Mbire has been suspended from officiating Premier League matches from Match day 11 to Match day 16 (six weeks). This action follows an unsatisfactory performance in the MWOS vs Manica Diamonds fixture held on May 1, 2025 at Ngoni Stadium.”
Mbire’s transgression may have stemmed from a penalty he awarded to MWOS, scored by Salif Cheya to cancel out Ask Rupande’s opener.
The referee then denied Manica Diamonds a winner when Nigel Mupinduki’s late goal was flagged for an offside.
“All match officials are expected to maintain the highest levels of professionalism, consistency, and competence,” Zifa added.
“Corrective action will be taken wherever standards are not met.”
This is the second time that Zifa have publicly shamed below par match officials.
Last season, they suspended, for six weeks, referee Cecil Ngwezere and his assistant referee Zondzi Ngosana for their roles in the abandoned Chibuku Super Cup match between Highlanders and Simba Bhora at Wadzanayi Stadium.
Simba Bhora were awarded a second half penalty after Ngosana, who was the far side assistant, incorrectly advised Ngwezere to point to the spot after a foul by then Highlanders defender Peter Muduhwa on Tinashe Balakasi.
Television replays showed that the foul had happened outside the penalty area.
The Zifa referees committee is led by Faith Mloyi and it falls under the purview of vice president Kennedy Ndebele.
