Former Referee Ace Ncobo Disagrees With AmaZulu Coach Pablo Franco Martin About Penalty Decision

Former Referee Ace Ncobo Disagrees With AmaZulu Coach Pablo Franco Martin About Penalty Decision

  • Orlando Pirates were rightfully awarded a penalty against AmaZulu in the Nedbank Cup, says former referee Ace Ncobo
  • AmaZulu coach Pablo Franco Martin said awarding the penalty was a ‘scandal’, but former FIFA referee Ncob disagreed
  • Local football fans agreed with Ncobo’s analysis as they felt it was a clear penalty for Pirates in the 4-2 victory
Former referee Ace Ncobo says AmaZulu coach Pablo Franco Martin was wrong to criticise the referee.
Former referee Ace Ncobo agreed with the call to award Orlando Pirates a penalty against Pablo Franco Martin's AmaZulu side. Image: AmaZulu FC / Ace Ncobo
Source: Facebook

The decision to award Orlando Pirates in their 4-2 Nedbank Cup victory over AmaZulu on Saturday, 13 April 2024, was the right call, according to former FIFA referee Ace Ncobo.

AmaZulu coach Pablo Franco Martin was angry about the decision, but Ncobo said the referee was correct in awarding Pirates the penalty that Patrick Maswanganyi converted.

The referee was in the perfect position, says Ace Ncobo

Read also

AmaZulu coach Pablo Franco Martin says his side ‘is not respected’ by referees

Ncobo explains why the penalty was the correct call in the tweet below:

According to iDiski Times, Ncobo said the referee followed the law during Pirates' Nedbank Cup quarterfinal victory.

Ncobo said:

"The referee looks at the infringement, tests it against the laws of the game, and if there is holding, the referee will blow his whistle. We did not speak about a push, the infringement is holding. That’s where the critical differentiation is – holding an opponent, and that’s what the law says."

Bucs fans thank Ncobo

Pirates fans thanked Ncobo for his explanation while they backed their team to continue their good form after they scored 11 goals in their last two matches.

Ernest Bongani agreed with Ncobo:

"That's correct, Mr Ncobo."

Read also

Orlando Pirates Coach José Riveiro is proud of his players who ‘Played With the Heart’

IXoki Lakwa Mduba says speaking afterwards does not help:

"This thing of former referees analysing after games must end because they speak different languages week in & week out. It's NOT helping with anything because someone already benefited & someone lost or, even worse, lost his job, or the club got relegated."

Donald Basupi Ganie backed Ncobo:

"Good analysis."

Thuts Dla Min says the decision was correct:

"Spot on decision by Mr Ref."

Miya Msizi says there is no argument:

"Clean Penalty."

Patrick Maswanganyi impresses Junior Khanye

As reported by Briefly News, former Kaizer Chiefs star Junior Khanye said he was impressed with the performances of Orlando Pirates forward Patrick Maswanganyi.

Maswanganyi scored a brace during Pirates' 4-2 Nedbank Cup quarterfinal victory on Saturday, 13 April 2024, which drew rave reviews from Khanye.

Source: Briefly News

Authors:
Junior Bester avatar

Junior Bester (Editor) Junior Bester is the current Entertainment (Sports) Writer at Briefly News. He achieved a ND:Journalism at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in 2012. He worked for Independent Newspapers from 2011 till 2022 covering news, sport, business and entertainment for titles such as Weekend Argus, Cape Argus, Daily Voice and Northern News. Junior passed a set of trainings by Google News Initiative. He joined Briefly News in 2024. You can reach him at junior.bester@briefly.co.za