After Simba SC won the CRDB Federation Cup following their victory over Azam FC in final, there has been widespread debate about incidents that occurred during the match, with Azam FC expressing dissatisfaction with some of the referee’s decisions.
According to what was observed by Azam FC officials, the club felt that it was not treated fairly in several key moments of the match, a situation that sparked strong emotions after the final whistle.
The basis of statements made by the club’s owner, Jamal Bakhresa, stems directly from events that took place on the pitch, where Azam FC believe that Simba benefited from the referee’s decisions, while they were disadvantaged in several key calls.
After the match ended, Azam FC refused to collect their runners-up medals, a move that further sparked debate among fans and football stakeholders in the country.
This incident has intensified discussions about the quality of refereeing, with various stakeholders calling on the relevant authorities to review the refereeing system to ensure fairness and transparency across all competitions.
Last season, Yanga also strongly protested what they perceived as biased decisions affecting certain teams through the actions of football authorities and referees.
Their stance led to the removal of then-League Board Chairman Steven Mguto, Chief Executive Officer Almas Kasongo, and then-TFF Secretary General Wilfred Kidao from their positions.
Azam FC have also stated their position that next season they will “fight referees tooth and nail” to ensure they are not treated unfairly again, and if no changes are made, Bakhresa has suggested they could consider moving to the Zanzibar league.
