Surely the local game’s powers that be must now see the need to introduce a review system!
How can they honestly continue to turn a blind eye while clubs continue to suffer at the hands of some inept match officiating?
At the weekend when they stuttered to a goalless draw at Ajax Cape Town, Gordon Igesund’s SuperSport United did so without the services of their talismanic scoring winger Thuso Phala.
But the former Platinum Stars player shouldn’t be sitting three matches out. At least not due to the red card he received in the midweek Tshwane derby against Mamelodi Sundowns.
For the lad from Soweto was shown a red card for an assumed offence that was never.
In possession of the ball, Phala found himself illegally tugged at by Sundowns’ Khama Billiat. In an attempt to rid himself of his marker, Phala flung his arm back and touched the Zimbabwean’s arm.
Billiat’s reaction reminded one of Rivaldo’s theatrics in the 2002 World Cup semi-final clash between Brazil and Turkey.
The Sundowns striker covered his face as though he’d had his molars readjusted by a Mike Tyson punch.
And the referee fell for the simulation hook, line and sinker and responded by giving Phala his marching orders.
In other top leagues in the world, the English Premier League in particular, SuperSport would have had recourse by asking the review panel to look at the incident. And they would have definitely rescinded the red card.
With the game having grown to be such a big money business, it is a shame that precious points are lost via some poor officiating while help is at hand.
As stubborn as football has been over the years to refuse the use of technology to help the match officials, even they are slowly beginning to see the light. The introduction of goalline technology is proof of this. Granted they argue that introducing more technology in the game could take away from the flow and nature of the game. And yes controversies often cause by refereeing decisions make for interesting debate among fans.
Yet surely, introducing a review panel to look at things such as sending offs could help.
As it is, Safa does have a referee’s review panel that has in the past seen the likes of Victor Gomes punished with a demotion to the lower league.
Now how about they use that very same panel to relook at decisions such as Phala’s red card to ensure that there is some fairness in the game. - The Star