Veteran football referee and beloved analyst Ace Ngcobo has announced his decision to step down from the popular SuperSport television program “Extra Time”, a move he says is intended to preserve the integrity of the football ecosystem and the SuperSport brand amid ongoing legal matters.
In a heartfelt Facebook post dated May 6, Ngcobo addressed viewers with a “special message,” describing the difficult decision to withdraw from the show he has anchored for the past 13 years.
“We developed our love-hate relationship as real football people always do. You loved me when my analysis favoured your club, and hated me the very next week when it did not,” Ngcobo wrote, acknowledging the show’s impact in educating fans on the intricacies of refereeing.
Ngcobo revealed that immediately after stepping out of court, he contacted his SuperSport Football boss and voluntarily decided to cease his involvement with the show “in the foreseeable future.” He stressed that while he maintains his innocence, he does not want his personal legal matters to affect the credibility or reputation of the show.
“Innocent as I know I am… I thought best to make this decision,” he stated.
Ngcobo’s departure comes at a time when viewer trust and brand image are critical to broadcasters, and his gesture has been widely seen as an effort to uphold professional standards despite personal challenges.
He ended the post by saying he will now join millions of South Africans watching the show from home, and encouraged fans to continue supporting “Extra Time.”
SuperSport has not yet issued a formal statement on Ngcobo’s exit.
