Former FIFA Referee and Premier Soccer League (PSL) General Manager Ace Ngcobo has added his voice to the debate around Orlando Pirates' Paseka Mako 'spying' on opposition Dondol Stars during the teams' Nedbank Cup quarterfinal clash.
In footage that has gone viral on social media, Mako is seen alongside the Dondol Stars players and technical team who had gathered to share tactics, - the left back appears to be listening in on what's being discussed by the opposition to late share the gathered intel with his teammates.
.@orlandopirates player Paseka Mako spies on Dondol Stars during team instruction session. ?? #NedbankCup #KeYona #BabizeBonke #OrlandoPirates #OnceAlways pic.twitter.com/xddvXuuC0q
— Keba Mothoagae (@KebaMothoagae) April 15, 2023
The footage has divided opinion across the football fraternity and although Ngcobo cleared Mako of contravening any of the Premier Soccer League rules, but warned that the 29-year-old conduct was unsportsmanlike.
"I understand the [undercover] 'agent' side of it, there is nothing in the laws of the game that prevents him from doing that [eavesdrop on opposition's discussions]," Ngcobo told SuperSport' ExtaTime.
"But it's a gentleman's game, there are certain unwritten rules in football, of certain things that you can and cannot do."
"There isn't any rule [against it] but anything that has the potential to brew trouble shouldn't be done...Imagine he had been discovered standing there, stealing information. It's unsporting conduct."
"This is a gentleman's game, we don't do things that have the potential to brew trouble."
Ultimately, Pirates triumphed over the resilient Stars via a penalty shootout after the teams could not be separate after extra time.
The Buccaneers are now one of only four teams remaining in the Cup competition and will have to go past rivals Kaizer Chiefs in the semi-finals.
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