/ 20 September 2004

Referee in hot water after Chiefs victory

Kaizer Chiefs mentor Ted Dumitru was not happy with some of referee Abdul Ebrahim’s decisions during the SAA Supa 8 semifinal against Moroka Swallows at the Absa Stadium on Sunday.

Chiefs won by 1-0, with the goal coming from Zambian international Collins Mbesuma.

”I’m supposed to be happy, but I’m not. I have to nurse my players who are in severe pain as they were butchered in the game.

”I take it as a big crime to [put] inexperienced referees in charge of such an important fixture. The supporters were supposed to enjoy good football from both clubs, but ended up watching the referee making big blunders and not protecting players,” he said.

”In fact, we are supposed to thank the supporters for behaving themselves in this match. If they didn’t chaos was to emerge because of the referee’s mess. I have a very good respect for him [the referee] as a person, but not that he can handle such a game.

”Three of my players are badly injured and the referee was supposed to give marching orders to two Swallows players for tackling my players.”

The Birds’ players that Dumitru was talking about are Gary McNab and Bhekithemba Ndlovu, who were vicious in their tackles against Mbesuma and Arthur Zwane in the 74th and 76th minute respectively.

Dumitru concluded that even Swallows suffered because of the amateurish decisions taken by Ebrahim. — Sapa