Sport

150 referees fail FAZ test

ONE hundred and fifty referees have failed an assessment and will be ineligible to officiate official league matches next season, the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has disclosed. According to a list released by FAZ and signed by General Secretary Machacha Shepande, the assessments were…

Mwebantu Published 27 December 2025, 08:19 CAT • 27 Dec 2025 1 min read

ONE hundred and fifty referees have failed an assessment and will be ineligible to officiate official league matches next season, the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has disclosed.

According to a list released by FAZ and signed by General Secretary Machacha Shepande, the assessments were conducted to determine the referees’ suitability to manage matches in various FAZ-sanctioned leagues.

The referees were subjected to physical fitness, mental aptitude and written examinations as part of the certification process.

FAZ has, however, cleared 372 referees for the 2026 football season out of the 522 candidates who underwent a rigorous national scrutineering exercise.

The 150 referees who failed to meet the minimum requirements will have to wait until next year to be reassessed and considered for certification.

Lakatips

The development comes amid concerns over declining refereeing standards in Zambian football, with clubs and football stakeholders in recent seasons raising complaints over inconsistent officiating.

Several league matches have been characterised by controversial decisions, leading to protests and disciplinary cases, and drawing attention to the need for improved match officiating.

FAZ has previously acknowledged the challenges facing referees and has emphasised the importance of strict assessments, continuous training and enhanced fitness to improve professionalism and restore confidence in officiating.

(Mwebantu, Saturday, 27th December, 2025)

Source: Mwebantu — Read more

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