Former FIFA referee Ace Ncobo has explained why Denis Onyango received a red card and what led to Mosa Lebusa switching into goalkeeper in their MTN8 quarter-final win over Polokwane City.
Onyango handled the ball outside the box and simultaneously brought down Oswin Appollis in the 84th minute with the game tied at 0-0.
Ncobo insists match official Eugene Mdluli was left with no choice but send off the Mamelodi Sundowns keeper – not because he handled the ball but because he denied Appollis a clear goalscoring opportunity.
“A beautiful moment of coordination between the referee and the assistant referee,” he explained on Extra-Time.
“Because remember if the ball is kicked upfield like that the referee is still behind play, he’s caught for pace, he see that the ball is handled but from where he is [he couldn’t see it], he looks across to the assistant referee, he relies on him to indicate whether it was caught outside.
“The referee can’t see whether it’s inside our outside, he can see that there is handling of the ball but he relies on the assistant referee to indicate it is actually a foul and the referee would immediately know that it’s outside the penalty area.
“It is DOGSO (Denying Of Goal Scoring Opportunity) – no defender in close proximity, the striker (Appollis) in possession of the ball, the goalkeeper takes one for the team.”
Ncobo then explained Lebusa had to put on the goalkeeper kit because Sundowns had already used their three in-game substitution slots, meaning they could only bring on Jody February in extra-time.
“If you’ve used up all your substitution opportunities, you must wait for an additional [opportunity],” he added.
“The additional comes with an extra substitute and you can only utilise it during extra-time.
“If you don’t go to extra-time, you remain with an outfield player in the goalkeeping decision.”
