FUFA softens punishment on referee Asadu Ssemeere after successful appeal

Referee Asadu Ssemeere is set to return to officiating duties after the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) Appeals Committee revised an earlier disciplinary decision that had sidelined him for three months.

The development follows weeks of uncertainty surrounding the experienced referee’s future after he was sanctioned over his handling of a Uganda Premier League fixture involving Kitara FC and Vipers SC at Kitende on April 10.

Karisa incident led to initial FUFA ref suspension

Ssemeere had initially been suspended on May 6 after he failed to send off Kitara FC goalkeeper Meddie Kibirige for a dangerous challenge on Vipers captain Milton Karisa during the match.

FUFA’s Referees Disciplinary Panel ruled that the referee had incorrectly applied the Laws of the Game, leading to the three-month ban.

However, following an appeal, FUFA’s Appeals Committee opted to suspend the implementation of the punishment for one year instead of enforcing it immediately.

Under the revised ruling, Ssemeere will only serve the suspension if he is found guilty of committing a similar offence within the next 12 months.

In a statement released on Monday, the committee explained that although it agreed the referee had made an error in judgment, there were mitigating circumstances that justified easing the sanction.

Immediate return to officiating

The ruling now clears Ssemeere to resume officiating Uganda Premier League matches with immediate effect.

His return comes at an important stage of the season as clubs battle for league positions in the closing rounds of the campaign.

Kibirige also punished separately

Meanwhile, Kitara FC goalkeeper Meddie Kibirige had earlier been sanctioned separately over the same incident.

The goalkeeper was handed a two-match suspension, forcing him to miss games against NEC FC and Express FC, and was also fined Shs500,000.