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).
READ: Hanging Judge: What the law says on Mhango goal
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
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