Absa Premiership and GladAfrica Championship were proposed to restart this weekend but that has been delayed by SAFA after they announced that match officials are not ready.
The Association says referees must undergo Covid-19 tests and mantatory fitness checks for the next two weeks before they are declared ready to go back to the soccer field.
Due to health and safety measures introduced by FIFA related to the Covid-19 regulations, all referees are required to change kits at half-time of matches.
However, snl24.com/kickoff understands that local referees are still using their old uniforms to officiate local games following the dispute between SAFA and the PSL over the OUTsurance-sponsored kit.
"The referees only have one set of uniforms which they got last year," reveals an inside source.
"Remember this season the referees were supplied with the OUTsurance kit, which was later stopped being used in both Absa and Nedbank games due to the dispute between PSL and SAFA.
"There is a big challenge because referees still use the uniform which they received last year. That's why sometimes you see them wearing Nike and sometimes wearing Adidas during games.
"There is a big challenge because most of the referees have only one set of kit to use when officiating games."
The sponsorship dispute stemmed from the fact the PSL felt SAFA's deal with the insurance company stepped on the toes of the league's title sponsor Absa.
Acting SAFA CEO Tebogo Motlanthe confirms that their referees only received the OUTsurance uniform this season but promises that the Association will find a solution.
"It's not that they didn't get a kit. They got the OUTsurance kit but unfortunately there was a dispute and the Association will come and check how to handle the situation," Motlanthe says.
"It's a not a challenge, it's something that can be addressed. For every problem, there is a solution. We will find a solution around it."
