Cape Town Spurs head coach Ernst Middendorp has seemingly expressed match-fixing allegations in the Motsepe Foundation Championship following the events of last weekend!
Spurs, one of the big teams expected to challenge for promotion back to the Betway Premiership, have found the going tough in recent matches after a promising start.
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They are winless in their last three games after a 1-1 draw against in-form Upington City on Sunday, where they were reduced to 10 men with in the dying minutes following a red-card for Michael Morton.
As a result, Middendorp's charges dropped down to ninth spot in the standings, six points adrift of leaders Durban City after seven rounds of fixtures.
Two weeks after releasing a statement that "If you're not politically connected" in the second tier, "you suffer the consequences", the German has penned another emotional statement regarding officiating in the league, where he draws the attention of league sponsor Motsepe Foundation, owned by Dr. Patrice Motsepe.
The former Kaizer Chiefs coach more or less accused the League of allowing match-fixing, stating that after seven matches, he is convinced referees influences games to their own desired outcome and are influenced by "social forces", in a statement titled: ''Lawbreaking' in the Patrice-Motsepe-Foundation League (NFD in RSA)'
"Patrice Motsepe, whom I hold in high esteem, certainly does not like to hear the following statements," Middendorp wrote.
"Furthermore, it is understandable that SAFA and NSL authorities want to to protect their referees per se. The fact is, repeatedly referee decisions (main referees, line referees) in the Patrice-Motsepe-Foundation League ignoring the rules and regulations of the soccer game under the FIFA roof not getting revised.
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"You like it or not, but it opens the door to arbitrariness in the Patrice-Motsepe-Foundation league that damages football," continued the statement.
"Considering that almost every match in the Patrice-Motsepe Foundation League is observed by a match observer or other equivalent of a referee assessor, there are NO consequences for "officiating errors". Here, I am NOT discussing "error management". After experiencing now seven games in the Patrice-Motsepe-Foundation-League I am brave to say that referees internationally guide games to a desired outcome. Referee decisions are influenced by 'social forces' - evidence is available!'," the statement reads, in part.