LETTICIA VIANA SET FOR DRAMATIC RETURN TO OFFICIATING

MBABANE – Retirement is not on the horizon just yet for the FIFA-accredited referee, Letticia Viana.

Viana is also an assistant sports officer in the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs. After a season marred by injury, Viana’s remarkable officiating career has not only endured, but also continues to thrive. She was integral to the officiating team during the 2022 Under-17 World Cup in India and adeptly presided over all Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) Cup competitions last year, culminating in the finals.

Her accomplishments also include officiating in the women’s CAF Champions League third-place match in Morocco. As she looks ahead, Viana is poised to officiate at the upcoming African Nations Championship (CHAN) scheduled for August. Having embarked on her refereeing journey in 2005 and securing her FIFA accreditation in 2015, Viana’s determined ascent to becoming a Video Match Official (VMO) in 2022 epitomises relentless dedication and resilience.

Recently, she was also invited to the FIFA Video Match Officials seminar in Doha, Qatar. However, recent investigations by this publication indicate that Viana will indeed be officiating in Premier League games this season. The pivotal question arises: How has this return come about? It appears that following her retirement, a new female referee was initially earmarked to succeed Viana, as the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) required the presence of four female referees with FIFA accreditation.

Regrettably, this unnamed candidate, for ethical considerations, did not meet the required standards in the fitness test, prompting the EFA to reinstate Viana to active refereeing. EFA subsequently announced a roster of 12 match officials, mirroring last season’s list, which includes Viana alongside Nothando Mkhumane and assistant referees Buysile Mkhaliphi and Simphiwe Nxumalo.

EFA’s potential loss of the essential spot for four female match officials—promoted by FIFA—would imply a lack of commitment to fostering female referees in Eswatini. FIFA advocates for female refereeing representation, especially in tournaments like the FIFA Women’s World Cup, underscoring the significance of compliance for maintaining their slots. Failure to do so could severely restrict opportunities for local referees aspiring to officiate at the World Cup level, the pinnacle of refereeing achievement.

Inquiries

In response to inquiries regarding Viana’s status, EFA Marketing and Communications Officer Muzi Radebe clarified that Viana remains an active referee. He emphatically dismissed claims of her retirement, reinforcing that she has not formally communicated any intent to retire from officiating, thereby upholding her active status both locally and internationally.

He elaborated that, legally speaking, Viana has not yet reached the mandatory retirement age dictated by FIFA, the authority governing refereeing matters and responsible for the annual appointment of referees to FIFA lists based on their performance evaluations.

When questioned about the prospects of Viana officiating in forthcoming matches, Radebe delineated the structured appointment process, conducted by the legally sanctioned Referees Committee, with assessments forming the basis for selection. He affirmed that Viana, as an active referee on FIFA’s lists, remains eligible for appointments to officiate.

As concerns were raised about the lack of public communication regarding Viana’s return, Radebe firmly rejected any notion of a transparency issue. He reiterated that Viana has consistently been recognised as an active referee without any formal retirement communication from her side.

He emphasised that any consideration of early retirement necessitates formal notification to those in authority, which has not occurred in this instance.Consequently, Radebe maintained that the notion of Viana’s return to officiating is inconsequential since there is no record of her having retired.

Prompted

When prompted about the EFA’s initiatives to cultivate female refereeing talent and diminish reliance on retired officials, Radebe clarified that claims of dependency on retired referees were unfounded. He reassured that the EFA has implemented dedicated training courses for aspiring female referees, facilitated by FIFA experts.

Current women referees are already officiating in local matches and have been considered for international competitions, bolstered by a clear progression pathway aligning with FIFA guidelines. Radebe expressed optimism that the number of female referees would continue to grow as they progress through this structured development pathway.

In closing, he reiterated the importance of integrity and transparency within the refereeing system, asserting that open communication is paramount to fostering public trust and confidence in the decision-making processes of the EFA.

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