Are our sports referees really safe?

The Kenyan Premier League (KPL) has done a good job to ensure referees are protected while officiating matches.

There was a time when referees used to be attacked every week and teams could get away with it, but tough measures adopted by the league body have gone a long way to end the menace.

However, all these gains could soon be wiped out, given the recent attacks on referees by irate fans. On Wednesday evening at Nyayo Stadium, center referee Antony Ongwayo was attacked by AFC Leopards fans, who claimed he was biased during their league match against KCB.

Ogwayo’s crime was ending the match when AFC Leopards were about to take a corner kick and it shows the ignorance of the fans as a referee is allowed to end a match at any moment so long as it is full time.

Police had to intervene to save Ogwayo from the wrath of the fans, who even prevented him and his assistants from going to the dressing room after the match.

This was not, however, an isolated event. Three weeks ago, another referee was attacked by Gor Mahia fans at City Stadium. Before that, Gor Mahia fans had also been blocked from attacking center referee Tabitha Wambui after their match against Thika United at City Stadium.

KPL chief executive Jack Oguda has, however, said he is not aware of the attacks, but vowed disciplinary action will be taken against anyone who attacks a match official.

“We have looked at all our reports and none has pointed out that a referee was attacked. We expect referees to indicate in their reports whenever such things happen so that we can have a basis for taking disciplinary action,” said Oguda.