Jordaan: Gomes Can’t Be Lost Locally

The South African Football (SAFA) president Danny Jordaan says he has no issues with the revered referee Victor Gomes calling it quits, saying he has done well for himself.

However, he said he cannot be left alone but he must help the association to find another Gomes, who will just like him, end up officiating at the global stage.

Gomes, who has worn the FIFA badge since 2011, announced that he will no longer avail himself as match official in any football competitions after his involvement at the World Cup in Qatar that ended last Sunday.

Even before he went to Qatar, there was a hint that Gomes was going to retire after the World Cup, as reported by iDiski Times, with his last domestic game being the Soweto Derby between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs in October.

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“Look, referees’ retirement age is early and they must retire at 45 (as per FIFA cut off date to be in charge in matches internationally),” Jordaan, who was in Qatar, told iDiski Times.

However, in this case, Gomes is just 40 which means he still had five more years to officiate at the top level, potentially even in the next World Cup in North America in 2026.   

With Gomes having called it quits, Jordaan said he won’t be lost and his experience must be used to nurture the next generation of referees.

“He must help the next referees coming through and he has experience and he can assist them in furthering their growth,” said Jordaan.

Jordaan said he will sit down with Gomes sometime next year to map the way forward.          

“Absolutely. He must help others since he has been at the highest level,” said Jordaan.

Gomes was in charge of two World Cup matches in Qatar – France thrashing Australia 4-1 and also Japan’s 2-1 stunning victory over Spain, where Gomes and the VAR team got the decision correct for Japan’s second goal after the ball circumference did not fully cross the line.    

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Gomes, in officiating in the World Cup finals in Qatar, joined a small band of South Africans who have refereed at the global event such as Jerome Damon (2010 World Cup), the late Ian McLeod (1998 World Cup), Enoch Molefe (2010 World Cup), Achmat Sallie (1998 World Cup), Zakhele Siwela (2018 World Cup) and Ari Soldatos (1998 World Cup).

He also became the first official from SA to referee the Africa Cup of Nations final (AFCON) in February that was won by Senegal, beating Egypt in Cameroon on penalties.

He was assisted by Siwela, who joined him in Qatar’s World Cup finals. Gomes will forever be remembered in the AFCON final for sarcastically offering Egyptian star Mohamed Salah his whistle and his cards to be in charge of the game, with the Liverpool star unhappy with some of the decision.

Gomes was also in charge of CAF Champions League final in May this year in Morocco where Wydad Casablanca defeated Pitso Mosimane’s Al Ahly in the final. 

Story by Robin-Duke Madlala (@duke_robin).