ESwatini Club Mbabane Highlanders AM is in the news for all the wrong reasons following a match over the weekend.

This comes after the club’s supporters attacked the referee, Celumusa Siphepho, on Sunday, when their team conceded in injury time to Nsingizini Hotspurs in the Ingwenyama Cup Round of 16 match played at the Mavuso Sports Centre.

Highlanders supporters felt hard done by, arguing that the referee denied their side two clear penalty appeals in the match—decisions they believe could have changed the result before the late goal by Nsingizini Hotspurs’ Luyanda Nhlengethwa, who made it 1-0 at the death.

“A day that began with colour, noise, and all the hallmarks of a classic cup tie at Mavuso Sports Centre ended in deeply worrying and disappointing circumstances,” admitted Highlanders in a statement.

“The closing scenes fell short of the standards expected of the game and cast a shadow over what should have been a celebration of football. We now await further guidance from the relevant authorities on the way forward.”

In videos circulating on social media, the referee can be seen running for his life across the field.

The Highlanders’ supporters cornered the referee when he fell on the pitch, resulting in him being assaulted, and the match being abandoned.

The match officials were saved by the police, who fired shots in the air and while some supporters ran for cover, others were hit with rubber bullets.

Highlanders AM are expected to face severe sanctions for the incident.

South African businesswoman Shauwn Mkhize, also known as MaMkhize, bought the club last year, becoming its president in July.