Was Orlando Pirates’ last-minute penalty correct?

Was Orlando Pirates’ last-minute penalty correct? Let’s find out what the experts think.

The Soweto Derby delivered high drama on Saturday as Orlando Pirates edged Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 in a nail-biting PSL showdown. The decisive moment came in injury time when referee Masixole Bambiso awarded a controversial penalty, sealing the victory for the Buccaneers.

Patrick “Tito” Maswanganyi stepped up and confidently converted the penalty, sparking debate over whether the decision was fair. Fans and analysts have been divided, with some arguing that the call was harsh, while others believe it was a textbook decision.

Why the referee got it right 

Former PSL and FIFA referee Jerome Damon defended the referee’s decision, emphasizing the fundamental rules of football.

“Rules of the game are simple. You can’t hold an opposition player when they are about to take an action,” Damon stated in an interview with Soccer Laduma. “Football is a contact sport, but we play with our legs and not hands. Where were Blom’s hands when Mofokeng was about to take the shot? All over him. Holding impacts and impeaches the action of the attacking player and he couldn’t take his shot in the right way. And that’s why he missed the target. So the referee was right to award a penalty there.”

Damon highlighted that Njabulo Blom’s interference with Relebohile Mofokeng affected the attacker’s ability to take his shot cleanly. This infringement, according to the rules, warranted the penalty call.

Debate over delayed whistle blowing

While some critics, including former referee Errol Sweeney, argue that the official should not have awarded the penalty after initially allowing play to continue, Damon countered this claim.

“There was nothing wrong that the referee did by delaying blowing the whistle,” he explained. “There is a difference between advantage and delayed whistle blowing. In the modern game, match officials are encouraged to delay their whistle before either blowing for the foul or signaling an advantage for a foul committed. Why? Because once he signals advantage, and it does not materialize, he cannot then bring it back for the original foul. This should settle the raging debate or add to it. He delayed the blowing and did not give the advantage, so the penalty was the right decision there.”

What this means for Pirates

With this crucial win, Orlando Pirates gain valuable momentum in the PSL standings, while Kaizer Chiefs will be left wondering what could have been. The debate over the penalty decision will likely rage on, but one thing is clear—the referee’s call played a defining role in the outcome of this heated rivalry.

Was the penalty call justified? The discussion continues, but the points remain with Pirates. 

Stay tuned with The South African as we ask, was Orlando Pirates’ last-minute penalty correct?

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