Times Of Swaziland: ‘BIRDS’ FACE E45 000 FINE FOR REF’S ATTACK ‘BIRDS’ FACE E45 000 FINE FOR REF’S ATTACK ================================================================================ BY CHRIS DLAMINI on 05/12/2017 01:00:00 MBABANE – With refereeing making headlines these days in the ongoing MTN League for inconsistent decisions, teams are losing their patience. That they are running out of patience was witnessed this past Sunday when Mbabane Swallows played Matsapha United in a drama-filled match that ended 1-all. An aggrieved Swallows fan missed the first assistant referee with a water bottle thrown from the grandstand and landing inside the pitch. After the match, the assistant referee, who along with his colleagues, were immediately in the guard of the police after the final whistle, was attacked inside the tunnels allegedly by incensed Swallows’ marshals for his decisions against them. “It was tense under the tunnels as the marshals wanted to beat up the assistant but police ensured he was untouched,” said an eyewitness. The two incidents, if reported by the match officials as expected, can cost Swallows at least E45 000 or more if found guilty for taking matters into their own hands – that is just how serious the refereeing problem currently facing the country’s football. This incident follows that of Mbabane Highlanders also throwing missiles onto the pitch the previous weekend against Manzini Wanderers while Manzini Sundowns wrote a formal complaint to the National Football Association of Swaziland (NFAS) expressing discontent about refereeing. Highlanders have also been charged and face up to E50 000 fine if found guilty. Swallows could pay nothing less than E15 000 for the bottled water targeted at the assistant referee according to the League’s Rules and Regulations, Article 7.1 (f). For their alleged attempt to assault the assistant referee, Article 7.1 (b) provides a fine of not less than E30 000. Swallows General Manager Sandile ‘Beyond 2000’ Zwane condemned any form of violence or misconduct from their fans or marshals.