Relegated Atletico Lusaka have voiced their displeasure over how match officials have conducted themselves during their games in the 2024/2025 season.
According to a post on the club’s official Facebook page, the club feels hard done but a number of officiating decisions saw them be on the receiving end of 13 penalties.
The club believes they were denied seven clear goals throughout the season while they were hard done by two offside goals being given to their opponents instead of them being disallowed by the match officials.
“Season in numbers:
13 penalties against (one in the last game)
1 in favor
7 valid goals disallowed
2 offside goals given to the opponents
🧐,” Reads part of Atletico Lusaka’s post.
The club also feels the referee, Mazimba Katiti who officiated their final game of the season against ZESCO United should have not taken charge of the match because he had a clear conflict of interest.
The club believes they are a good peaceful side as another club would have made a big fuss over the situation.
“Same referee sent for a crucial fixture in clear conflict of interest. Actually we are good boys… Imagine what can happen with other teams…. World War 3 & 4 at the same time 😂😂😂😂
We trust the new Administration will clean this mess.We paid to be an easy scapegoat. Well done to the boys for an amazing season. All Zambian, very young, good football and bright future. 🇿🇲🇿🇲🇿🇲.”
After the match head coach Brian Kunsanama expressed his disappointment following the appointment of Katiti as the centre referee for the crucial encounter.
The match ended in a 3-2 defeat for Atletico Lusaka, a result that confirmed their relegation from the league.
“Whoever assigned a ZNS official to officiate our game has killed football. You saw the dubious penalty, you saw the decisions he was making out there,” he said.
“Where on earth have you seen a Zambian referee go to officiate a Zambia versus Egypt game?” he added.
“He is a uniformed guy, ZNS, his team is fighting relegation. They’re giving him praise right now. I don’t know his rank but he’s being promoted. Whoever appointed this guy to come and officiate our game, it’s an embarrassment.“
Officiating in the Zambian topflight and lower tiers has been a cause of concern for many stakeholders in the recent past with questionable calls witnessed in a number of games.
