A referee's insight has been provided on what many believe was a handball in the build-up to Orlando Pirates' goal in the MTN8 semi-final against Mamelodi Sundowns.
The two titans could only be separated via a penalty shootout after playing to a 1-1 draw in both legs of the enthralling semi-final.
In the second leg, played at Lucas Moripe Stadium last Saturday, Iqraam Rayners opened the scoring in the first half, before Kamogelo Sebelebele reacted first to finish after a scramble in Ronwen Williams’ box.
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However, many have pointed out what appeared to be Tshegofatso Mabasa, who assisted the goal, stretching out his hand and possibly using the hand rather than the head to redirect the ball to Sebelebele before the latter tapped in.
Reviewing the match on SABC Sport's Soccer Zone, former FIFA referee Victor Hlungwani explained why the referee made the correct call in allowing the goal to stand.
"There is an incident where Mabasa is alleged to have handled the ball," said Hlungwani while reviewing the incident on screen and with the benefit of slow motion.
"We can show you that when a ball is handled as Mabasa is moving his hand, the ball would have changed direction.
"Did the ball change direction in this situation, as (Oswin) Appollis passes there? The hand was ready to handle the ball, but if you look at it, the ball never changed direction.
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"So, how would the referee say it was handball? He can’t because the ball did not change direction!
"So, the referee was correct in allowing the goal because there is no evidence of handball as the ball did not change direction.
"Correct decision by the referee to award a goal," he continued.
