Local refereeing remains a hot topic

Refereeing decisions were again the subject of hot debate this past weekend after the man with the whistle in the Soweto derby, Jelly Chavani, made some contentious calls.

However, both Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp and his Orlando Pirates counterpart Rhulani Mokwena,  tried their best to shy away from the subject.

The interim Bucs boss, whose team could have been a goal down and a man down early in the Telkom Knockout quarter-final clash in Durban, had this to say on the matter.

Chiefs won the game via a penalty shoot-out. But they could have won it in normal time had the officials not erred.

Samir Nurkovic’s headed goal was flagged for off-side midway through the first half when replays suggested otherwise, while Thembinkosi Lorch escaped what appeared to be a stamping on Khama Billiat with just a yellow card.

Chiefs had come in for criticism in the build-up to the game with Mamelodi Sundowns boss Pitso Mosimane saying they benefitted most from poor refereeing.

Their coach Ernst Middendorp also did not want to be drawn too much into the discussion, saying only that things have a way of balancing out.

On Friday the Premier Soccer League (PSL) prosecutor confirmed that it had written to a host of head coaches to explain comments attributed to them in the media on match officials.

Middendorp was not one of them, but the German also added that refereeing needed to be a lot more professional in South Africa.

The coaches written to by the league are Benni McCarthy, Steve Komphela and Owen Da Gama, who also declinded to comment on the matter following their Telkom Knockout loss to Maritzburg United on Friday.

Pitso Mosimane has also been asked to explain his comments following their loss to Chiefs last weekend. – Report by Thahir Asmal

#PSL Disciplinary Update:#PSL Prosecutor has written to Cape Town City coach Mr. Benni McCarthy, Lamontville Golden Arrows coach, Mr. Steve Komphela and Highlands Park coach Mr. Owen da Gama to explain comments attributed to them in the media on match officials. pic.twitter.com/lDoQ7rO3Gq

— Official PSL (@OfficialPSL) November 1, 2019