Former FIFA referee confirms Polokwane City equaliser against Kaizer Chiefs was valid

The controversy surrounding Polokwane City’s equaliser in their Betway Premiership draw with Kaizer Chiefs has been resolved after former FIFA referee Victor Hlungwani examined the goal.

Kaizer Chiefs were held to a 1-1 draw by Willy Moloto’s side at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday, missing the opportunity to move further up the table. Lebohang Maboe gave the visitors the lead shortly before the half-hour mark before Giovanni Philander levelled for Polokwane City.

Philander’s goal, scored from a corner, prompted debate after footage from several camera angles appeared to suggest the ball had travelled through the side netting before entering the goal.

The images led to speculation that the net might have been damaged, creating a gap in the area where the ball appeared to pass.

Hlungwani reviewed the incident on Monday evening and dismissed the possibility that the net was open.

“When we play it, we’ll see that akuna mbobo, kuvalekile [there’s no hole, it’s sealed],” he said on SABC Sport’s Soccer Zone.

Explaining the sequence of events, Hlungwani said the ball had remained in front of the goalpost and goalkeeper Brandon Petersen before making contact with the goalkeeper.

“Now here is the ball, here is the ball on the air, it does not go behind the goalpost, it goes in front of [Brandon] Petersen.

“So now, here a ball comes in there, hits Petersen’s chest, goes inside the net between the goalpost and under the crossbar.

“So, correct decision by the referee to award a goal,” Hlungwani said.

He also pointed to the reaction of the Kaizer Chiefs players closest to the incident. Their failure to make any complaint to the match officials, he argued, further supported the conclusion that the equaliser was legitimate.

The goal nevertheless added to questions about Petersen’s concentration in the Kaizer Chiefs goal this season. His performances between the posts have been scrutinised on several occasions, in contrast to last season, when his displays were strong enough to put him in contention for inclusion in the World Cup squad.

The result left Kaizer Chiefs unable to make further progress up the table, while Polokwane City secured a point in the home fixture.

Fernando da Cruz’s side will return to action on Sunday, when they travel to face Golden Arrows at Princess Magogo Stadium.