REF, WHO WAS SUSPENDED BY CAF, TO HANDLE BIG TIE

Noel Munzabwa Jnr

A REFEREE, who was once suspended by CAF for giving the Warriors a raw deal in a controversial COSAFA Cup match against Namibia, has been handed the assignment to handle their World Cup qualifier against Lesotho in Johannesburg tomorrow.

Thulani Sibandze of Eswatini will be in charge of the match.

He is best known, for all the wrong reasons, after a controversial decision which resulted in the Warriors being dumped out of the 2017 COSAFA Cup by Namibia.

The incident happened at the National Sports Stadium.

Sibandze was in charge of the match when he allowed an “illegal” Namibia penalty conversion to stand.

He will be accompanied by the trio of his countrymen – Thembinkosi Magagula, Thembinkosi Dlamini and Zamani Simelane.

After the controversy at the giant stadium, the Swazi duo was suspended by CAF for allowing an illegitimate goal, scored in a penalty shootout, at the giant stadium.

The contentious third penaltywas converted by Namibia’s Dynamo Fredricks.

He stopped and feinted, after having completed his run, and then coolly slotted past goalkeeper Herbert Rusawo.

The move had been outlawed by the rules and regulations governing world football ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The footage of that penalty was sent to the International Football Association Board, the sole authorities when it comes to the crafting of laws and regulations governing world football.

They provided an analysis that supported The Herald’s position that referee Sibandze, and his assistant Mbingo, should have disallowed that effort and noted it down as a missed penalty.

“As you know from our previous correspondence, The IFAB does not comment on the correctness or otherwise of referee decisions as that is not our role or responsibility,” IFAB technical director David Elleray exclusively told The Herald.

“However, we are always happy to provide guidance as to the interpretation and application of the Laws of the Game.

“In this respect in the Laws of the Game 2017 /18, Law 14 states that it is an offence if the kicker ‘feints to kick the ball once the kicker has completed the run-up (feinting during the run up is permitted).

“This Law is applicable in Kicks From the Penalty Mark (KFPM) (Law 10).”

CAF responded by suspending the two Eswatini match officials.

However, tomorrow, Sibandze will be in charge of the Warriors and, hopefully, he won’t be driven by the edge to settle scores with them.