By Mohammed Allie BBC Sport, Cape Town

Fans of South African football will be viewing matches with scepticism this season

Like a festering sore in desperate need of treatment, police investigations into allegations of corruption and bribery among South African referees and club officials have been long overdue.

So far 22 referees and club officials have appeared in court following investigations commissioned three months ago by South Africa Football Association president Molefi Oliphant.

It is something that has been talked about for many years but nearly always swept under an increasingly rising carpet.

In 1998 an investigation was carried out into similar allegations.

Let's chuck these cheats in the dustbin Trevor Phillips, PSL chief executive

The report compiled by the Motimele Commission, which is believed to implicate several high ranking officials in the South African game, has yet to be released. The reason given is that the contents of the report could leave Safa open to litigation.

For several years now a familiar pattern has emerged - the prevalence of bizarre refereeing decisions always seems to rear its head at the business end of the season when the championship race and the relegation battle reaches a decisive stage or a crucial cup game is being played.

It did not matter that these games were being televised where decisions could be dissected for all to see.

It is no surprise then that football fans and coaches have welcomed the investigations.

Ursula van Niekerk, an ardent fan of the Cape Town Premier League club Santos, has always been suspicious of some referees.

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"I think it's best for the police to be involved because if the investigations had been done by football officials there would have been a cover-up," she said.

"These investigations should have been done long ago because it's been obvious to many fans that the increasing incidence of poor refereeing decisions can't simply be blamed on incompetence," said another fan, Rashaad Paulse.

Santos coach Boebie Solomons also welcomed the investigations.

"I'm very happy that action is finally being taken. It's very important for the country and also for the game of football that it all comes out now," he said.

"The mess should be cleaned up for once and for all. Once you have a virus in your body it has to be removed for the body to heal."

But Solomons hopes the investigations get to the bottom of the issue instead of merely targeting referees.

"The referees aren't the problem, the club officials are the problem because without them there can't be any form of bribery or corruption.

"I just hope they're not trying to make a show of arresting a few referees and letting the big fish go."

Fifa-accredited referee Jerome Damon has welcomed the investigation.

He said allegations of match-fixing had been made for a long time and it was time the matter was resolved.

"I'm comforted by the fact that the matter will finally come into the open. Now all referees won't be painted with the same brush," he said.

"Let's chuck these cheats in the dustbin," is how Trevor Phillips, Chief Executive of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) feels about the matter.

"I feel like I've been shot in the stomach. You work very hard for 18 months to restore the credibility of the league only for this to happen. I am gutted," said Phillips who was rehired by the PSL to revive the rapidly receding image of the league.

As the start of the new season approaches fans will be hoping the court appearances of the referees and officials will expose the murky underworld of the game in the country.

Until that happens, many will watch matches through sceptical eyes.