Renowned former referee Victor Hlungwani has provided his assessment of a penalty awarded to Orlando Pirates in the DStv Premiership clash against rivals Mamelodi Sundowns.
The two teams played to a stalemate at Loftus Versfeld Stadum on Saturday evening when Tapelo Xoki's spot kick cancelled out Marcello Allende's second half strike when AB was adjusted to have brought down Xoki in the penalty area.
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Masandawana supporters felt hard done by the decision when match footage later revealed that prior to the incident, Pirates Patrick Maswanganyi had placed the ball in an incorrect spot and the corner should have been re-taken.
Speaking on the matter on SABC Sport, retired referee Victor Hlungwani agreed that corner kick should have been re-taken but explained that since the match-official missed it, the penalty rightfully stood.
"We'll show you here that the ball was wrongly placed, number one, in the corner arch," Hlungwani said.
"The law says the ball must be placed inside the corner arch or touching the line. So what [Patrick] Maswanganyi does, he places it outside, which was wrong.
"Look at [Abdelmounaim] Boutouil there holding an opponent. So, when you hold an opponent, the referee is in close proximity and then correctly awarded the penalty for holding an opponent that prevents him from going to in to an advantageous position. So correct decision by the referee.
"Yes, in terms of the procedure (of taking a corner). If that procedure has been violated (by placing the ball in the incorrect area) the kick should be re-taken but it was not seen unfortunately. It was only seen by us, the refereeing team never saw it.
"But correct decision for the penalty. Incorrect for the corner.
"Here we also put the blame on the players. We are saying Maswanganyi, don't do that. Put the ball in the correct place. This is wrong. The ball must be inside the corner arch. Not outside. So Maswanganyi here, he robbed the referees!"
?? C??RR??C?? | ??NC??RR??C?? ?? Victor "The Principal" Hlungwani zooms into the incidents during Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates match...?? LIVE ?? SABC Sport ?? SABC+ ?? https://t.co/hibb8lgo8P #SABCSportFootball #Soccerzone pic.twitter.com/e9adZRjEyZ
— SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) February 19, 2024
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The draw means Sundowns lose some steam in the pursuit to the defend the DStv Premiership title but remain undefeated in 15 matches.
Meanwhile Pirates also suffered a dent in their race for a continental spot but were lucky to be escape with a point having gone down to ten players after Miguel Timm was sent off for a second yellow card.
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