The Rwanda Premier League is facing increasing criticism over poor refereeing standards, with several matches during the 2025/2026 season overshadowed by controversial officiating decisions. What should be competitive and entertaining fixtures have instead sparked frustration among clubs, supporters, and football analysts.
Recurring officiating errors
Throughout the season, questionable decisions particularly incorrect offside calls and failures to apply proper disciplinary sanctions have directly affected match results. These repeated mistakes have raised concerns about referee competence, consistency, and the overall integrity of the league, fueling public debate over the effectiveness of referee training and match review systems.
FERWAFA’s disciplinary measures
In response, the Rwanda Football Federation, FERWAFA has sanctioned several officials whose errors were deemed decisive. Claude “Cucuri” Ishimwe was suspended for two weeks after failing to issue a second yellow card in the APR FC vs Mukura Victory Sports match. Assistant referee Eric Mugabo received a four-week suspension for wrongly disallowing a valid Mukura goal in the same fixture.
Emmanuel Habumugisha was also suspended for four weeks after incorrectly ruling out a goal in Gasogi United’s match against Rayon Sports. More recently, Aristote Jabo was banned for four matches after an incorrect offside call denied APR FC a crucial goal against Al Merrikh SC.
FERWAFA says these actions demonstrate its commitment to accountability and improved officiating standards.
Doubts over impact and calls for reform
Despite the sanctions, many stakeholders argue that suspensions alone do not compensate teams for lost points. Coaches, including APR FC’s head coach, have questioned whether such punishments truly address the damage caused by incorrect decisions. Fan anger has also been evident, especially on social media.
To address these concerns, FERWAFA plans to introduce Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology later in the season. While this move is seen as a positive step, its success will depend on proper training, technology, and effective implementation.
