Former PSL referee Lwandile Mfiki has explained the difficulties that come with being a referee, calling it 'the most difficult job in football' with match officials coming under fire since the season started.
Back in 2013, Mfiki was left shaken but not injured after a vuvuzela-wielding spectator tried to hit him during a match between Golden Arrows and Kaizer Chiefs.
"Being a referee is not an easy job. It's difficult, actually, on two fronts," Mfiki says, speaking exclusively to KickOff.
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"You are formulating an opinion, and this opinion is against the 22 players on the pitch, the benches ... and television makes it even worse.
"You, as a referee, you've got one angle and one chance to see the action, and you have to decide immediately, while the television shows it from different angles at slow speed. That makes the viewers see exactly what happened. TV makes refereeing look easy.
"The game is getting faster as well, the players are fitter, and the game is moving quicker than it was before. This means in a corner-kick situation, a referee can be left behind in the blink of an eye with a counter-attack, and three seconds later, the ball is inside the other box.
"Remember, the players just pass the ball to each other, while a referee has to track back with their own two feet. It makes it a very difficult job," he continues.
Mfiki adds that first and foremost, a referee's mandate is to deliver results, while trying to be as invisible as possible during a match.
"People pay to see the players play football, not a referee who keeps on stopping the game and issuing cards. You try your level best to remain invisible and let the players shine. However, you still need to protect the skillful players with cards and free kicks.
"If no one talks about the referee after a game, then that referee had a good game.
"I don't think here at home the crowd has as much influence on referees' decisions, as most of the teams don't have that many supporters.
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"But having being exposed to continental football, it does play a role. They intimidate you, they intimidate the away team, but it's something that referees are well taught [about] not to put [it] in their minds.
"You block everything from outside and you focus on the field," says the retired referee.