Damon recovered, but lost his FIFA badge

South African referee Jerome Damon has breathed a sigh of relief now that he is back in action after five months in limbo. Damon, who refereed at the FIFA World Cup 2010, passed the fitness tests with flying colours and will soon be back in action. The tests were conducted by the South African Football Association Referees Technical Committee in Cape Town. "I'm hoping to be back sooner than later. It has been frustrating in the past five months. I'm happy to have fully recovered", Damon said.

The popular Cape Town school teacher missed the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon because of injury. South Africa was represented by referee Daniel Bennett and assistant referee Zakhele Siwela at the event. Damon completed the required 12 laps in line with international standards, which SAFA has adopted as a national standard. He was recuperating from a calf muscle injury that made him pull out of a fitness test in September last year. "We warmly welcome the return of Damon as this will further strengthen the existing group of match officials. It is our wish that he gets back to action as soon as possible because his officiating has been sorely missed by all. The more good referees we have the better for our country, especially in international competition”, said Adeel Carelse, head of the Referees Department at SAFA. Because of his injury, Jerome Damon lost his FIFA badge in less than two years after he refereed at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Source: Sowetan