South Africa head coach Hugo Broos has revealed that even Egypt captain Mohamed Salah was surprised by the penalty decision that decided their Africa Cup of Nations clash, as frustration over refereeing standards continues to grow at the tournament.
Egypt secured a 1–0 win after Salah converted from the spot, but Broos believes the decision that led to the penalty was unjustified. Speaking after the match, the Belgian coach said Salah himself expressed disbelief at the call.
“Even Salah said to me after the game that he was surprised it was a penalty,” Broos said. “It was ridiculous.”
Broos questioned the consistency of the handball interpretation, pointing to explanations offered by match officials that he found confusing and contradictory.
“In the pre-tournament meeting they said if the arm is extended away from the body, it is a penalty,” he explained. “Then they said it was his supporting arm. Who invented this supporting arm? His arm was extended and it hit his arm.”
The South Africa coach said the confusion stems from lengthy pre-tournament briefings, which he believes leave players and coaches unclear about how the rules are applied during matches.
“I want to talk about the meeting you get before a tournament,” Broos added. “For 45 minutes they explain the rules, there are 25 to 50 rules. It is a penalty, then it is not a penalty. It is a red card, then it is not.”
By the time the explanations end, Broos said, clarity is lost rather than gained.
“By the end, there are so many rules that no one knows what to do,” he said.
While South Africa remain focused on their next group match, Broos’s comments and his revelation of Salah’s reaction have added fresh scrutiny to officiating decisions at AFCON, with calls for greater consistency and clearer communication of the rules.
