The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has suspended referee Joseph Kalunga for the rest of the season following his controversial officiating in the Week 26 MTN Super League match between Atletico Lusaka and FC Muza.
Kalunga was scrutinized for key decisions, including a penalty awarded to Muza.
“A video clip of Mr. Kalunga awarding a questionable penalty to Muza FC in their match against Atletico Lusaka on Saturday, 1st March 2025, was analyzed by the Technical and Match Review Committee,” Kamanga said. “Their findings indicate that the penalty decision was incorrect, among other contentious calls that contributed to crowd disturbances.”
With the league now in its decisive stages, Kamanga stressed that FAZ would not compromise on officiating standards.
“At this stage of the competition, we will only entrust matches to referees who uphold the highest standards of officiating and safeguard the integrity of our beautiful game,” he added.
Kalunga is the second high-profile referee to be sanctioned this season. In December 2024, FAZ also suspended referee Shem Nyondo after a poor performance. This happened in the Week 17 fixture between Kabwe Warriors and Nkana at the Godfrey Ucar Chitalu Stadium.
FAZ has reiterated its commitment to ensuring fair play as the league nears its climax.
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