Ex-SAFA and FIFA referee Victor Hlungwani react on four of the five incorrect referee calls in Stellenbosch FC and Kaizer Chiefs match this past weekend.
The match was filled with drama from the first minute, as both clubs wanted to advance to the next round of the tournament, and was made more eventful due to horrendous referee calls by Sikhumbuzo Gasa and his team.
On Soccerzone yesterday, Hlungwani touched on the four of the five wrong major calls Gasa had during the match.
1. Penalty Incident: Moloisane Impeding Du Preez
The first incident happened in the seventh minute when Stellies defender Tsepo Moloisane appeared dragged and impeded Chiefs attacker Ashley Du Preez in the box and denied him an opportunity to get to the ball after a defence splitting pass from Nkosingiphile Ngcobo.
Gasa and his assistant saw nothing wrong with challenge and awarded the host goal kick, which Hlungwani felt was a wrong call, and a penalty should have been awarded.
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“You can see that there is being impeding there. He is blocking him. You know Du Preez is very quick,” Victor Hlungwani stated on Soccerzone.
“He is being prevented from being in an advantageous position. A penalty should have been awarded here.”
2. Penalty For Chiefs And No Yellow Card For Toure
In the 16th minute, Chiefs attacker Gaston Sirino delivered a devilish ball into the box into the direction of Glody Lilepo, which Stellies defender Ismael Toure stopped by using his hand deliberately.
Amakhosi was awarded a penalty, and Toure was wrongfully not booked for using his hand deliberately to shock Hlungwani, who expected Gasa to book the Ivorian junior international.
“We see a handball by Ismael Toure, and this handball is called deliberate handball because a hand was used towards the ball,” Hlungwani said on the Toure’s handball.
“Sirino crosses the ball, (and) you can see a hand was used to stop the ball, as it stops the ball, who is behind there? Lilepo is behind to receive the ball.
“When he is behind to receive the ball, you can see what we call, stopping or breaking a promising attack, so therefore penalty given correctly so, but then what about the yellow card for stopping or interfering with a promising attack?
“So yellow card should have come out for Ismael Toure for stopping a promising attack using a deliberate handball.”
3. Victor Hlungwani On Toure Avoiding a Red Card for Slapping Sirino
In the 39th minute, Toure again avoided getting the right card after he slapped Sirino after the two were fighting for the ball.
Hlungwani felt that a yellow card was not enough, as Toure slapped Sirino and was lucky to have remained on the pitch for beyond the 39th minute.
“A chesa mpama by Toure on Sirino. I must commend Sirin. He would have retaliated,” Hlungwani added.
“The mpama on the face is violent conduct means a player used excessive force or brutality and therefore the player must be sent off.”
4. Stellenbosch’s Goal And Toure Again In The Picture
In the 86th minute, Sanele Barns whipped a corner from the left flank, which was met by Andre De Jong, who headed in an equaliser for the hosts.
Upon closer inspection and on replays, Toure was spotted pulling back George Matlou by his hand, denying the player an opportunity to defend the corner.
Hlungwani didn’t discuss it and went on straight to the much-talked about Chiefs’ second goal.
5. Chiefs’ Goal That Was Never Supposed To Stand: Victor Hlungwani Shocked And Surprised
With the game set for 30 extra minutes, substitute Mduduzi Shabalala delivered a corner from the left flank that saw Matlou impeding Stellenbosch’s goalkeeper Sage Stephens leading to the ball falling to Pule Mmodi who slotted in the goal.
The Gasa’s assistant initially ruled out the goal for foul on Stephens by Matlou, but after a deliberation between Gasa, his assistant, and fourth official, Gasa awarded the goal.
Something that Hlungwani believed should have not happened, as the linesman call was correct to start with.
“You see George (Matlou) not playing the ball. He plays the goalkeeper. Now the flag goes up for an infringement,” he stated.
“You can see the infrigement at home; we have to protect the goalkeeper because he plays with his hands.
“They spoke, and the referee said I didn’t see any foul, and he gave a goal.
“The correct decision came from the assistant referee for a foul. This should have not be given as a goal and should have been given as a foul.”
Chiefs went on to add another goal through Mfundo Vilakazi in the 100th minute to book a place in the semi-finals, where they will take on the winner of the quarterfinal clash between Mamelodi Sundowns and Sekhukhune United.
SAFA, ARV is highly recommended to promote the standard the standard of our soccer to get rid of the negligence of the referees on the spot. The current system is killing our soccer and the spirit of the young soccer players.
VAR it is a must