In a shocking, chaotic incident, players from Congolese women’s football club DC Motema Pembe chased after and assaulted a referee in protest of his decision to not grant them a penalty during a match.
A widely shared video shows the referee desperately running across the pitch, in an attempt to get away from Motema Pembe players, seven of whom were running after him and throwing punches as they went.
DR Congo ????????
— POOJA!!! (@PoojaMedia) February 17, 2023
See how players of DC Motema Pembe Women's team chased and attack a referee for not awarding them a penalty in their game against TP Mazembe Women.
Motema Pembe were trailing 5-1 before the incident happened in Lubumbashi. pic.twitter.com/lk9a53gpLB
The players finally got ahold of the referee and started beating him while staff at the stadium tried to intervene. Meanwhile, Motema Pembe’s opponents stood on the pitch astonished as the drama unfolded.
Ex-CAF media expert Collins Okinyo posted the video on Linkedin, saying that the incident occurred during Motema Pembe’s league match against DR Congo’s TP Mazembe. Motema Pembe was losing 5-1 when the violent outburst occurred.
Social media users criticized the players’ behavior, describing it as “disrespectful” and “inhumane.”
Some called for disciplinary action against the Motema Pembe women’s team and for the players involved to be fined and suspended. Others sympathized with the referee, arguing that he was only doing his job.
“What a disgraceful act, the whole team should be disbanded for life,” said a Twitter user.
Another social media user described the players’ behavior as “shameful” calling on FIFA to “severely” punish them.
