Former FIFA referee Ace Ncobo has explained why referee Tshidiso Mkhwanazi was right to give a penalty for the foul from Richard Ofori on Lehlohonolo Majoro in Orlando Pirates’ draw with AmaZulu.
The Buccaneers hosted Usuthu on Friday in a game that produced several talking points and with both sides sharing the spoils.
Usuthu went ahead after Siphesihle Maduna slotted home a first-half penalty following a foul from Ofori on Majoro. Many believed the decision was harsh after it looked like a collision between the two players, but Ncobo insisted the referee could’ve even sent the Pirates goalkeeper off.
“Most of the fouls that gets given against players carry no intention to commit the foul but trying to play the ball,” he said on Extra Time.
“We can see that his hands are not towards the ball, they are towards the opponent.
“The referee punishes the moment when he [Ofori] has his hands towards the face of the opponent. Look at how he even pushes the head to the side, because he continues with the drive towards the opponents head and that’s what the referee punishes.
“That’s why he was even shown a yellow card, because hand to face is a yellow card.”
Ncobo reiterated his stance that the penalty call was right, but Ofori should also have seen a red card.
“Many people thought the players came down through the collision but that’s not the case,”
“If you look at what happened to Majoro’s head after they touch, it shows that there was indeed quite a force towards the head, which could’ve been a red card.
“He would’ve been very spot on to show a red card.”
Pirates later equalised through an own goal by Veli Mothwa after a powerful shot from Kermit Erasmus bounced against the post and off Mothwa’s back into the back of the net.
The Buccaneers are back in action tonight, when they will meet Golden Arrows.
