South African world class match official Victor Gomes is set to retire from football in January, iDiski Times has learnt.
The 39-year-old made his Premier League Soccer debut in 2008. He was voted PSL Referee of the Season in 2012/13 and 2017/18 and has been an international referee since 2011.
iDiskiTimes has learnt that Gomes will officiate his last game in the Premier Soccer League before heading off to the FIFA World Cup. But after the tournament in Qatar, he is expected to hang up his whistle immediately.
In 2018, he was hailed by the South African Football Association after he rejected a reported bribing attempt. Gomes had been approached and offered a reported R300,000 to fix a CAF Confederation Cup match between Nigerian side Plateau United and Algerian side USM Alger.
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He officiated the 2019 and 2021 edition of Africa Cup of Nations, and was rewarded with being in charge of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations final between Senegal and Egypt., where he famously clashed with Mohamed Salah.
He also officiated the 2022 CAF Champions League final between Al Ahly, then coached by Pitso Mosimane, and eventual winners Wydad Athletic Club.
Story by Sinethemba Makonco (@Makonco_M).