Mamelodi Sundowns were criticized for allegedly exhausting all their substitutions in the MTN8 quarter-final against Polokwane City, where they could not get a replacement goalkeeper after Denis Onyango's red-card. Kickoff investigates.
It appeared as if Sundowns were not aware of the rules or made tactical errors, after they were embarrassed following the red-card of Onyango with seven minutes of regulation time to go in their encounter against City.
The Brazilians could not introduce a substitute shot-stopper, allegedly for using all allocated substitutions, five in number, according to the rules and instead defender Mosa Lebusa went into goal, as he took the Ugandan's jersey and gloves.
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To the Tshwane giants' relief, the game went into extra-time, where they were allowed to make an extra substitution.
However, in fact, Masandawana did not use all their five substitutions in regulation time before the 39-year-old's dismissal but had used up the maximum of three substitutions opportunities allowed.
According to rules by IFAB, a maximum of five substitutions are allowed in each match, which carries a maximum of three substitution opportunities.
In this case, Sundowns had used all their three substitution opportunities before Onyango's red-card and not all five substitutions, as alleged, in regulation time.
Head coach Manqoba Mngqithi, in his first official match in sole charge of Masandawana, made his first sub and took his first opportunity on the hour-mark, as Themba Zwane replaced Tashreeq Matthews.
In his second opportunity, Mngqithi made a double change, as Thapelo Morena and Neo Maema both came on for Khuliso Mudau and Aubrey Modiba, which took the tally of subs to three.
Just before the veteran shot-stopper's red-card, on 82 minutes, Sundowns brought on Thapelo Maseko in place of Peter Shalulile, their fourth sub and third substitute opportunity.
So The Brazilians could not get a replacement goalkeeper, not because they used all allocated maximum number of substitutions, which is five. But they had exhausted their substitution opportunities, a maximum of three.
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The IFAB makes provision that "Substitutions may also be made in the period between full-time and the start of extra-time and at half-time in extra-time - these do not count as used substitution opportunities".
Hence, just after full-time, with extra-time confirmed, Masandawana eventually brought on goalkeeper Jody February in place of Terrence Mashego, their allowed fifth substitute.
It is only in the 13th minute of extra-time that Sundowns used a sixth substitute, when Grant Kekana came on for Lucas Ribeiro Costa, that they utilized an extra substitution provided in the (MTN8) competition rules (an exception), when matches go to extra-time.