Fitness Test Failure Ends Season for Top Referees

FIFA referee Mercy Kayira and grade one elite referee Elias Chikoleka’s hopes of officiating the remainder of this year’s football season were dashed on Sunday after they failed a crucial fitness test in Mzuzu.

The test, conducted by Moffat Champiti, national referee’s physical trainer, and Mark Mzengo, an international referee’s physical expert, was attended by 80 referees.

The fitness test, a requirement for referees to officiate matches, assesses their ability to perform repeated sprints and high-intensity runs.

It consists of two parts: the Repeated Sprint Ability (RSA) test, which measures a referee’s ability to perform repeated 40m sprints, and the Interval Test, which evaluates their capacity to perform high-speed runs over 75m interspersed with 25m walking intervals.

Kayira and Chikoleka’s failure means they will not be able to officiate any matches for the rest of the season. However, they have two options to regain their eligibility: book a fresh physical test in six weeks or wait for another full fitness test scheduled for March next year, which marks the start of the new football season.

According to the National football refereeing body, failed referees can use this time to work on their fitness and prepare for the next test.

“The FIFA fitness test requirements are stringent, with officiating personnel needing to sprint 40m in under 6.2 seconds and complete 20 sprints of 150m with 35 seconds rest in between,” reads part of the refereeing regulations.

However, this setback may be disappointing for Kayira and Chikoleka, but it highlights the importance of physical fitness in refereeing. The fitness test ensures that referees can keep up with the demands of the game and make accurate decisions on the pitch