NEWS: ‘I’ve been approached several times, if you’re a referee and you say you’ve never been approached you are lying’- former PSL referee Victor Hlungwani

Hlungwani, who was once regarded as one of the top PSL referees in South Africa, has brought attention to the issue of corruption within the sport. His revelation sheds light on the unethical practices some teams resort to in order to secure victories.

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The 48-year-old former match official has indicated that Operation Dribble, which was launched in 2005 by the PSL and SAFA, had a significant impact on minimising the incidence of referees accepting bribes.

Operation Dribble was an anti-corruption initiative aimed at rooting out corruption in South African football, specifically targeting match-fixing and bribery among referees and officials.

“I’ve been approached several times, if you’re a referee and you say I’ve never been approached you are lying because even Gomez, Bennett, and McLeod, all of them have been approached. The only difference is how you handle it,” Hlungwane told Arena Sports Show.

“If you are desperate, you might be tempted if you are vulnerable, you might be tempted for sure but if you check in South Africa in 2005, we had Operation Dribble. Why?

“Because teams were complaining, I’ve seen a match where a goal is scored and is ruled out by an assistant where also another goal is scored and is ruled out by a referee in the NFD.

“That’s when Operation Dribble came in because now there was a general outcry in the country. Where people were saying, enough is enough for sure and then if you check after 2005, what the PSL did alongside SAFA.

“Through that commission because some referees were interviewed in the commission and they said what they said.

“But what was said or the general agreement was referees are underpaid when the league closes in June. There’s no salary because we are paid by the match. If there’s no match, there is no money.

“So, teams will look at you not working and if I can give you ten thousand it’s easy for you (take a bribe) because if you not working you can’t say no, what will you eat?

“So, that is the situation then when the PSL and SAFA agreed to give us two thousand rand as a stipend every month.

“Whether you referee or didn’t you didn’t referee that R2000 is there. And then from that R2000, they will count how many games have you done so a top over the over there.

“And then whether the league closes or not at least you have money to buy food.”