FIFA Appoints South African referee, Tom Abongile

FIFA has appointed South African referee Tom Abongile to officiate Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup playoff against Gabon on November 13 in Rabat. His compatriots Zakhele Siwela and Akhona Makalima will serve as assistant referee and VAR official, with a Beninese assessor overseeing the match. The appointment has sparked outrage in Nigeria, where officials and fans questioned FIFA’s neutrality. FIFA said the selections were made by its Referees Committee, noting South Africans’ strong experience in major continental competitions. *The chief executive of Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv says it is "incredibly sad" away fans have been banned from his side's Europa League match at Aston Villa. Jack Angelides noted that Politics should never be drawn into football. Last month, the local Safety Advisory Group - the body responsible for issuing safety certificates for matches - informed Villa that no travelling fans would be allowed to attend the fixture in Birmingham on Thursday after police raised concerns, sparking a major backlash.