Former FIFA referee Ace Ncobo has discussed Paseka Mako “spying” on opposition players from Dondol Stars during a break in play in their Nedbank Cup quarter-final.
The incident happened in the 21st minute of Pirates’ penalty shootout-win over the ABC Motsepe League side when Mako was seen listening to instructions from Dondol’s technical team instead of returning to his own bench.
Mako was then seen sharing information he had gathered with his teammates. But did he actually break the laws of the game and should the referee have intervened?
No he didn’t, but he should still refrain from such as action, according to Ncobo, who now works as General Manager of the PSL and assessed the incident.
“There isn’t any rule [against what Mako did] but anything that has the potential to brew trouble, shouldn’t be done,” he said on Extra Time.
“Imagine he had been discovered, standing there, stealing information. It’s unsporting conduct.
“The moment they push him, the person that pushes is the one that gets disciplined by the referee.
“This is a gentleman’s game, we don’t do things that have the potential to brew trouble.
“I understand the ‘agent’ side of it – there is nothing in the laws of the game that prevents him from doing that. But it’s a gentleman’s game, there are certain unwritten rules in football of certain things that you can and cannot do.”
When it was put to him that Mako didn’t break the laws of the game, Ncobo agreed but still insisted Mako did break the unwritten code of conduct between players.
“Every time a referee takes action, that action must be bind to the laws of the game. The moment he walks there, the player says ‘what rule have I broken’ and you [as referee] are not going to have an answer,” he added.
“The coaches must advise players not to do that, it’s got the potential to brew trouble.”
