Former FIFA referee Ace Ncobo has backed Victor Gomes over the four red cards he dished out during the MTN8 semi-final first leg between Kaizer Chiefs and AmaZulu.
The visitors received three red cards throughout the 1-1 draw at FNB Stadium on Sunday, with Veluyeke Zulu being sent off for two fouls on the pitch, while Gabadinho Mhango and goalkeeper coach Johan Abselon were sent off from the bench.
After the final whistle Chiefs’ midfielder George Matlou also received his marching orders after storming on the pitch and having a tussle with AmaZulu keeper Veli Mothwa, who appeared to entice the Amakhosi faithful.
However, Ncobo insisted Gomes did nothing wrong and followed the laws of the game, first explaining the Zulu red card.
“Here is a hand to the face, the referee is obliged by the directive,” he said on Extra-Time.
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“It’s an automatic yellow, it’s like foot to foot [which is an] automatic yellow, hand to face is an automatic yellow.
“Because how more can player’s safety be endangered than if you poke your finger in the face of that players.
“Again, if he plays like that. You get a yellow and you go in and commit the same offence. Red card, he’s gone.”
Ncobo then assessed the Mhango and Abselon sending offs from the Usuthu bench, insisting they must’ve used foul language directed at the fourth official.
“Coaches must understand the referee seldom ever goes there [to the sideline] unless he’s being called over by the fourth official,” he continued.
“When he gets there, he gets the story from the fourth official. Look at him asking is it this one [Mhango] that swore at you?
“Because in fact, contradict to everything that has been said, that player threw insults at the fourth official.
“When the fourth official hears something like that, someone using insulting language I’m going to call the referee over tell him what you and the referee is going to dismiss you – it’s as simple as that.
“When you are a coach and you act in that fashion, you use insulting language, derogatory language, abusive language towards the fourth official, you are also being shown a red card.”
Finally, he also briefly touched on the Matlou red card, saying Gomes was within his rights to show the Chiefs man a red card, even after the final whistle and despite Matlou not having kicked a ball.
“As a player, now he has a red card and is not available to play,” he added.
“This is one thing they fail to understand, the match maybe be over [but] if the referee is still within the field, he’s going to show the card whether yellow or red.”
Matlou’s Red Card From Gomes Explained
