FKF SENDS OFF TWO REFEREES: Mudaki, Juma suspended due to poor show

Haron Shakava (18) of Gor Mahia FC is shown the red card by centre referee Raymond Onyango (right) after fouling against Dan Sserenkuma (down) of Bandari FC during the DSTV Super Sports Cup at the Mbaraki Sports Club, February 06, 2016. Bandari won 1-0. [PHOTO BY GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD].

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has cracked the whip on errant Kenyan Premier League (KPL) referees.

The federation yesterday suspended two of them as football followers continue to be concerned over the poor state of officiating.

The two Jafeth Juma and Duncan Mudaki will not be allowed to officiate in the Premier League until the end of the first leg of the league.

Even then, they will have to undergo a mandatory test before being considered for any fixture in the second leg.

FKF Chief Executive Robert Muthomi said Juma has been suspended after mishandling a KPL match between Ushuru and Gor Mahia played on April 10 at the Nyayo National Stadium.

In a letter to the referee, Muthomi said:”In the 17th minute, an Ushuru player broke a promising attack by pulling back a Gor Mahia player. You awarded a foul, cautioned the player, but did not record it and allowed a quick restart.

“In the 93rd minute, the same player had a retaliatory attack with a Gor Mahia player which was a second bookable offence.

“The player should have been sent off but you didn’t. Later on after the match you showed the player a red card.

“You ignored the advice of the first assistant Gilbert Cheruiyot to send off the player by deliberately ignoring to approach him after he raised his flag to notify you of the anomaly.”

On the other hand, Mudaki was suspended for mishandling a match between Ushuru and Mathare United on April 3 also at Nyayo Stadium.

He was found guilty of failing to send off an Ushuru player who denied Mathare United a goal scoring opportunity by deliberately handling a ball on the line. This he did against  assistant referee Fred Akida's advice.

In a related development, the FKF referees committee has ruled that George Mwangi and David Mulongo who handled Saturday’s match between Gor Mahia and Tusker will not face any disciplinary action.

The committee met yesterday.