Former PSL referee Victor Hlungwani has confirmed that Stellenbosch’s goal and Orlando Pirates’ second in the MTN8 final should not have stood.
Controversy has surrounded the two goals which had a bearing on the outcome of the contest which Pirates won 3-1 to become the first team to claim three straight MTN8 crowns.
Stellenbosch’s goal came from a throw-in which was not taken from the position when the ball went out before Lehlohonolo Mojela slammed home after 12 minutes and Hlungwani says it was not the right call.
“You can see the whole of the ball goes over the touchline and that is when the ball left the field of play,” Hlungwani said on SABC.
“The players have a right to pick the ball and throw it but does he throw the ball from the right place? As referees, we don’t have good eyes to see the exact spot so it is left to the discretion of the referee.
Was Stellenbosch’s MTN8 final goal legit?
“If he feels it is too much, he would call the player back but you could see it was more than four metres and maybe the referee could have said go back but, on this throw-in, many of the matches you will see referees allowing matches to continue but if you look at the metres in terms of law, the distance was too much.
“So, he should have said no, the distance is too much but 99 per cent of this you will see the referees allowing play to continue.”
Pirates, however, replied two minutes to the break through Monnapule Saleng and the match seemed to be headed for extra time when late drama ensued.
In the 91st minute, there was a foul several metres from the Stellies box and as both sets of players were preparing for it, Relebohile Mofokeng took a quick freekick, passing the ball to Tshegofatso Mabasa, who scored for 2-1.
The goal sparked an outcry from Stellenbosch players since Mofokeng took the freekick metres away from the ‘scene of crime’ with various interpretations later given but the veteran referee has ended the debate.
Hlungwani ended debate on Pirates’ quick freekick
“The law says the ball must be taken from where the infringement occurred. There was kicking an opponent so there was a foul but let’s see the distance, some say the referee is talking but talking to who?” posed Hlungwani.
“There is no one that the referee is talking to here, he is indicating that the ball goes that way. And immediately, Rele realises that people are sleeping and then he took the ball to Mabasa who then scored.
“Then, let us look at the law, it says it must be taken from where the offence occurred. So now, it was not taken from where the offence occurred or within the radius and that is where the problem is.
“That is why we said the referee should have put it back to where the infringement occurred. So, this was an incorrect decision from the referee in terms of the procedure for freekick.”