Who exactly referee Jelly Chavani was communicating with, using the earpiece before awarding a controversial goal to Moroka Swallows against Mamelodi Sundowns, has been revealed.
Chavani needed a long consultation, in the DStv Premiership encounter, using a communication device and earpiece worn by referees, usually for incidents where they are communicating with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
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However, since there is no VAR in the country, there were concerns raised on whether Chavani was speaking to someone who has the benefit of replays, before making a decision on awarding a goal scored by Mhango, which was initially disallowed after the assistant referee raised his flag for offside.
Even the Brazilians' head coach, Rulani Mokwena, was left puzzled by the incident.
"He (Chavani) went to the assistant referee, but he was talking to somebody. Who was he talking to? VAR? Do we have VAR all of a sudden in South Africa?" Mokwena fumed in his post-match press conference.
However, South African Football Association (SAFA) Head of Referees, Abdul Ebrahim, has clarified the incident and says the communication device is a closed system and is limited to only four match officials around the pitch.
"I'm even surprised that someone could make a comment like that. It shows that now people are starting to pluck at straws. The concept that is used by match officials is a close concept," Ebrahim said on Radio 2000's Game On.
"There are four systems used: one by the referee, two by the assistant referees and one by the fourth official, and those are the only people who communicate via that system, nobody else," he explained.
Ebrahim also allayed fears that match officials could be using technology to review incidents and then make decisions.
READ | Fans hit back at Mokwena's offside claims
"He (Chavani) would have been speaking to the fourth official. He was close to the first assistant referee and the second assistant referee could have also given his opinion as far as considerations for offside are concerned. We're using no technology in any of our matches at all. So, it would merely be his opinion as far as that particular incident is concerned," Ebrahim said.
Only Video Assistant Referee (VAR) is authorized by FIFA to be used as technology to assist match officials.
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