SAFA Head of Referees Abdul Ebrahim has confirmed he’s still waiting the report on referee Luxolo Badi after his shock error over the weekend.
SAFA’s Review Committee sat on Monday to look at all the referees performances over the weekend, including that of Luxolo Badi in the 1-1 between AmaZulu and Royal AM.
Badi, along with Simukele Jali – who was on the far right as his second assistant – denied AmaZulu a legitimate goal against Royal AM at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
Pule Ekstein thought he had equalised for Usuthu in the second half, but it was flagged offside as the ball came from Royal AM’s player inside the box before being tucking it away.
As Jali raised his flag for offside, AmaZulu players protested to him and Badi that Samuel Manganyi of Royal AM also handled the ball inside the box.
But it was the right call not to award the penalty as the ball firstly struck Manganyi’s limb before hitting his hand. But the offside call was wrong, leaving Usuthu president Sandile Zungu fuming, telling iDiski Times that they were shocked by Badi’s officiating and suspect underhand work here.
“Firstly, the incident is sitting with the review committee,” Ebrahim told iDiski Times about Badi’s controversial decision.
“Until the review committee has made their recommendations, I don’t really want to comment prior to that.
“Yes, I have seen the video clip, yes I have my opinion, but the right thing for me is to wait until the reviewer has made their recommendations, then I can comment on the incident itself.”
When pressed if he was embarrassed by Badi’s officiating, Ebrahim didn’t want to be drawn into any comments.
“I don’t want to comment on the incident or anything around it until I have a recommendation from the review committee,” he maintained.
“I know they sat on the incident on Monday. Until I get a report, I really can’t comment before that.”
Ebrahim also remained coy on whether he expects action to be taken against Badi, but admitted a serious error could lead to consequences.
“Mistakes do happen in matches and in some matches they don’t,” he added.
“If there was an incident where Mr Badi was incorrect, then like I said, there will be consequences for that. You should know though this [mistakes] could happen to anybody.”
“If something is wrong and action is to be taken, the review committee will make the necessary recommendations.
“If actions don’t need to be taken, they will make the same recommendation with regards to that as well.”
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