CAPE TOWN – The SA Football Association showed they mean business when it comes to bad officiating by demoting assistant referee Edward Madidilani to the SAB League for eight weeks for an incident involving Mamelodi Sundowns.
Masandawana coach Pitso Mosimane was livid when Lebohang Maboe’s goal was incorrectly disallowed after Madidilani ruled that Themba Zwane was offside in a Premiership match against Bloemfontein Celtic on October 3.
Zwane had been in an offside position inside the box, but was not involved in play.
It cost Sundowns victory as the match ended in a 0-0 draw, with Mosimane saying afterwards to SuperSport: “We tried, we controlled the game and we did well. It’s just sad because Lebo scored the goal. We won the game.
“Mshishi (Themba Zwane) is not interfering with play, he’s not even touching the ball. We won the game, it’s sad but what can we do.
“You know when we lost in the semi-finals of the MTN8, Cape Town City scored with an offside goal. We are out of the MTN8, and they won the Cup. It’s true, it’s a fact.”
And now Mosimane was proven right, with Safa saying on Friday that Madidilani has been “sanctioned for failing to fully comprehend and apply the offside Law 11”, and ruled that it was supposed to be a legitimate goal.
“The Safa Review Committee, after going through the video footage, decided to demote Madidilani to officiate in the SAB League for the next eight weeks in a bid to improve his understanding, interpretation and application of Law 11.
“Mr Enock Molefe, who is a seasoned technical instructor, has been given the responsibility of assisting Madidilani. The former international referee will submit Madidilani’s progress report on week 4 and 8 of the sanction period.”
Safa head of referee Tenda Masikhwa agreed with the decision to send Madidilani to the SAB League.
Pitso Mosimane said after the match in question that Lebohang Maboe's goal should've been awarded. Photo: Chris Ricco/BackpagePix
“Following a wrong offside call by Assistant Referee Madidilani, which had a direct impact on the outcome of the match, Safa has endorsed the recommendation of the Review Committee, which is to push Madidilani down to officiate in the SAB League for the next eight weeks,” Masikhwa said.
“The Mamelodi Sundowns goal was wrongly disallowed for offside, and we had to take action against such flagrant failure to correctly apply Law 11.”
Sundowns are next in action on October 20, ironically again facing Steve Komphela’s Celtic in the Telkom Knockout last-16 at the Lucas Moripe Stadium (6pm kickoff).
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