SSFF suspends referees from Juba community football matches

Match officials from the South Sudan Football Federation (Courtesy photo)

The South Sudan Football Federation (SSFF) has suspended all international and national referees from officiating in community football matches within Juba, following another violent scene that erupted during a peace tournament at Buluk Playground.

The suspension, announced on Tuesday by SSFF’s Referees Department, came after referees were physically attacked by fans during the tense match between Tonj North and Aweriar.

“Referees are entrusted with upholding the Laws of the Game and ensuring fairness on the field. They must not be subjected to violence or intimidation,” said Samson Kalisto Gumessi, Chairman of the Referees Department, in a statement co-signed by department manager Doboul Paul Puk.

Under the directive, no SSFF-affiliated referee will take part in Juba community tournaments until further notice.

Instead, referees will shift focus to preparations for the upcoming South Sudan Premier League.

The department further warned that any referee found defying the order would face disciplinary action.

The move highlights rising concerns over security at grassroots football tournaments, many of which are organized as peace and reconciliation events but have increasingly been marred by violence.

In recent years, referees and fans have repeatedly been assaulted during local games, sparking questions about safety, accountability, and the effectiveness of community peace initiatives.

The Buluk Playground has long been a flashpoint for such violent scenes, particularly during the so-called community peace tournaments dominated by teams from the Greater Bahr el Ghazal region.

Monday’s assault is only the latest in a series of troubling incidents that threaten to undermine football’s role as a unifying force in South Sudan.

For now, the SSFF insists its priority is to shield referees from further harm and preserve the integrity of the game.

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