MBABANE – The administrative issues surrounding Eswatini Video Match Official (VAR) Letticia Antonella Viana appear to be far from over.
After travelling to Morocco to officiate at the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), which runs from July 25 to August 16, 2026, fresh claims have emerged that she could be transferred to another government ministry.
The Times Sports Desk has learnt from a source who requested anonymity because they are not authorised to speak publicly on the matter that the Civil Service Commission (CSC) is allegedly considering transferring Viana from the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs to another ministry.
The source alleged that the proposed transfer stems from recurring administrative challenges surrounding Viana’s release whenever she is appointed to officiate at international football tournaments.
“Discussions are underway regarding Viana’s possible transfer to another ministry. It is alleged that the Civil Service Commission has grown frustrated because similar administrative issues arise whenever she is selected for international duty. We understand that she was approached to establish whether she would be comfortable with such a move and she reportedly indicated that she would. The search for a suitable ministry is allegedly ongoing with the hope that similar challenges will not arise in future,” claimed the source.
The source further alleged that officials in the ministry’s Human Resources department had been informed of the reported proposal and that the matter was expected to be discussed with Principal Secretary Prince Mlayeto.
When contacted for comment, Mlayeto said he was unaware of any plans to transfer Viana. “I reserve my comments on this issue. The appropriate people to comment are officials from the Civil Service Commission, human resources or the ministry’s Communications Office,” he said.
Asked whether he was aware that Viana had travelled to Morocco for WAFCON duty, Mlayeto said he had only learnt about her trip through media reports and referred further questions to the ministry’s Communications Office. Sports Ministry’s Communications Officer Phumaphi Msweli maintained the same position she as last week, saying the matter was one between employer and employee. However, when contacted again yesterday, she referred all questions to the principal secretary.
Public Service PS Mthunzi Shabangu also referred enquiries back to the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs, saying it was the appropriate institution to comment on the matter.
Efforts to obtain comment from Civil Service Commission Executive Secretary Nhlanhla Mnisi were unsuccessful by the time of publication. The Times Sports Desk sought to establish whether the commission was indeed considering Viana’s alleged transfer.
The latest claims follow reports that Viana’s departure for WAFCON was clouded by an alleged administrative impasse over her leave from the ministry. Earlier this month, the Times Sports Desk reported that, according to sources, her leave application had allegedly not been finalised before her departure for Morocco. It was also alleged that an unresolved leave matter dating back to 2025 had complicated the processing of her latest application. The ministry has not publicly confirmed those claims.
Viana remains one of Eswatini’s most decorated football officials and continues to raise the country’s profile on the international stage. She is the country’s first FIFA-accredited video assistant referee (VAR) and has officiated at several prestigious FIFA and CAF competitions.
Among her assignments was a FIFA tournament held in India, while she has also officiated at the 2016, 2018 and 2022 editions of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. More recently, she served as an Assistant VAR during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final and the 2026 CAF Champions League final.
Following her current WAFCON assignment in Morocco, Viana is also set to officiate at the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland, which is set to take place from September 5 – 27, 2026. Sources within football circles have also indicated that she was reportedly among officials who were being considered for selection for the recently concluded FIFA World Cup, which was won by Spain, although FIFA did not officially confirm the names of officials under consideration who were not selected.
Football observers believe every appointment to a FIFA tournament enhances an official’s experience and profile, increasing the likelihood of future appointments to major FIFA competitions, including the senior FIFA World Cup.
