DURBAN – Bidvest Wits forward Gabadinho Mhango will not get away with having spat in the direction of AmaZulu midfielder Michael Morton, who was sent off for retaliation, during Wednesday night’s feisty Absa Premiership clash in Umlazi.
The altercation occurred after Mhango was fouled by Thapelo Nyongo at King Zwelithini Stadium.
Mhango was fuming after he was intentionally fouled by Nyongo in the second, and when Morton tried to split them, the Wits forward decided to spit in the direction of the AmaZulu midfielder.
Morton then pushed Mhango and was sent off for his action, although Usuthu hammered Wits 3-0.
Premier Soccer League acting CEO Mato Madlala confirmed that they saw the incident on television.
“We saw the action of Mhango on television. It is something that is not right for the image of our game, but we will wait for the report of the match commissioner.
“We will then send the report to the Safa review committee and the matter will be then referred to the prosecutor who will make the decision if the player deserve a sanction or not,” she said.
“Such incidents are not easy to pick up as the match commissioner sits far from the action. If he missed the incident, he will send the video footage to the Safa review committee. It is difficult to pick up players who spit at each other when you are far from the action.”
A couple of seasons ago, AmaZulu marksman Mabhudi Khenyeza was once accused of spitting at the assistant referee when he was still playing for Ajax Cape Town.
“When an incident like that happened to Mabhudi Khenyeza, it was difficult to deal with it because the player stated that he spitted on the ground, and he didn’t anticipate that there were people around him,” Madlala said.
“I’m not saying Mhango will be prosecuted or not, but decisions having been taken after matches before. It happened to Gary Goldstone and Morgan Gould, but at the end of the day, the decisions are taken by Safa.”
Gould was fined and banned for two matches for punching Wits striker Getaneh Kedebe three seasons ago. In 2008, Goldstone was banned for two matches and fined R50 000.
AmaZulu boss Cavin Johnson slammed Mhango for his action.
PSL acting CEO Mato Madlala said she has seen the incident involving Gabadinho Mhango and Michael Morton. Photo: Aubrey Kgakatsi/BackpagePix
“I think it was very unfair. The initial instigator, which was Mhango, spat at him (Morton) in the face, and he has been running for 75 minutes. When you have been running for 75 minutes, you will find that your head is not there. You are fighting for the game and controlled the game, and Mhango does that.
“It is very unprofessional of Mhango to do that, but at the same time, maybe Michael Morton’s head just slipped a little bit.
“Mhango is not a good professional and he is not a good advert for South African football. It is not fair for any athlete to spit at another athlete. This thing is not fair.”
Bidvest Wits coach Gavin Hunt confirmed that they will deal with the Mhango matter internally.
“We don’t condone such behaviour, and we will deal with that matter internally,” Hunt explained.
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