Former FIFA referee Ace Ncobo has backed referee Tshidiso Maruping for awarding Kaizer Chiefs three penalties against Stellenbosch FC.
The Amakhosi received three spot-kicks in their 3-1 comeback-win over Stellenbosch at DHL Stadium on Sunday, which were all converted by Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana for his first ever hat-trick for Chiefs.
There were questions raised on whether all three penalties were rightfully awarded and Ncobo explained that Maruping got all critical calls right.
“When the striker turns, he leaves his left foot as he balances his body as he runs on and in that moment he gets tripped,” Ncobo said on Extra Time, explaining the first incident, where Mogamad De Goede was judged to have fouled Bimenyimana.
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“There is nothing about cooking eggs here – soft, medium or hard – he was tripped in the box, the referee sees that, that’s what brings him down, blows his whistle, points to the penalty mark – spot on decision by the referee.
“What he was blowing for here, was tripping. And tripping most of the time is accidental. It’s just unfortunate that in the laws of the game, tripping is an offence and if it’s in the box it’s a penalty.”
Ncobo then moved on to the second penalty-call after Fawaaz Basadien handled the ball inside his own box.
“As the ball flies in, I think the defender misjudged the trajection of the ball, because he expected his teammate to touch it, but clear case of making the body bigger, unnatural positioning of the arm, clear handball. Perfect decision again,” he explained.
Ncobo also commended the referee for pointing to the spot for a third time as well as sending De Goede off.
“There was a series of infringements that took place, the first one outside where he starts to lay his hand on Bimenyimana’s back, there is a push there, which the referee does not blow for. He stops the game for holding,” he added.
“By the time the third infringement takes place, referee has already blown. He has taken a decision that the infringement is an infringement of holding. There is an obvious goalscoring opportunity that is being denied.
“That’s why it’s not downgraded to a yellow, two almost simultaneous infringements, he goes for the more serious of the two, which is holding plus a red card – spot on decision.”
