/ 20 November 2013

Spain’s 7th substitute could leave Bafana without points

Spain's 7th Substitute Could Leave Bafana Without Points

South Africa may be in danger of losing Fifa ranking points following their 1-0 win over world champions Spain in an international friendly on Tuesday, after the Spanish side used seven substitutes during the match.

But the South African Football Association (Safa) insisted on Wednesday that Bafana Bafana was not to blame.

"Normally, the team who have made the transgression is the team that is punished," Safa director of communications Dominic Chimhavi said on Wednesday.

"We abided by all the rules and regulations. As far as we are concerned the result stands. An error by the referee shouldn't disadvantage and detract from what was an amazing performance and result."

The controversy started when Victor Valdes limped off the field deep into the second half, having already replaced Real Madrid keeper Iker Casillas at half-time.

Spain had already used their permitted six substitutes but the referee allowed a seventh, bringing on Pepe Reina in Valdes's place.

Contested call
Bafana coach Gordon Igesund contested the substitution, while Spain's coach Vicente del Bosque said South Africa supported the decision and it was left to the referee's discretion.

"The six substitutions were made. We asked for the seventh one to the referee table and he [the referee] said it was okay," Del Bosque said after the game.

"This extra change was a question of fair play and we were very thankful for it."

Igesund said the unprecedented move should not affect Bafana. "[Spain] wanted to get their player on, the fourth official and the referee were debating about all this," Igesund said.

"I think that their players [Spain] thought that I was saying no [to the decision to allow the substitution]. I didn't say that.

"Obviously it was a language barrier. I said to them quite clearly that the rules were made before the game started.

"They were coming to me and asking me if it was okay to bring the player on. I said that I didn't have a problem with that, I'm not the referee, I don't control the game."

Igesund said the referee made the decision to allow Reina on to the field, the only person able to make such a call.

South Africa – currently ranked 61st in the world, 60 places behind the Spanish side – stand to gain more than 500 points if the result stands, which could see them rocket up the rankings.

Working strategy
Igesund said on Tuesday that Bafana Bafana's victory over Spain indicated they are benefiting from a clear strategy outline.

"In the last 15 months or so, we've had a plan and sometimes these plans take time," Igesund said after the win.

"We've been on the right track for a while now and tonight's performance was absolutely excellent.

"I don't think we should get carried away. It was a good performance, but there's still a lot of work to be done."

Igesund said the national soccer team need to remain realistic in the build-up towards qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.

'We beat the world champions'
Bernard Parker's clinical second-half finish handed Bafana the historic victory, leaving Igesund a pleased man, despite having failed to qualify for the 2014 Fifa World Cup.

"We never qualified for the World Cup, but we beat the world champions," he said.

"From a personal point of view, it's always good to win a match, whether it's against Swaziland or the world champions. The players worked their socks off. We had to chase hard because they move the ball so well and so quickly."

Parker coolly finished off a flowing move by the home side, as Spain were brushed aside and had no reply, in front of a boisterous home crowd.

Experience
?Igesund said he was looking forward to watching his young squad continue to grow in confidence, with more international experience aiding them in future tournaments.

"In five years' time, can you imagine these players with 50 caps under their belts?" Igesund said.

"Some of these players only have one or two caps. We need to get that experience.

"It was a good game of football. We played against a fantastic team." 

Igesund will now shift his focus to the upcoming Caf Championship of Nations (Chan) tournament, which starts in January next year. But a concern will be the availability of his players.

Player availability
The Chan tournament is not a Fifa-sanctioned event, and as a result Premier Soccer League (PSL) teams are not obligated to release players to the national team.

Igesund remains hopeful that he will have the strongest squad available.

"Whether we get all of our players for the Chan tournament is another question," he said.

"It's not a Fifa month, the PSL has scheduled two games in that period and [it's] not giving teams much option to release their players.

"I don't want to get involved in that. I'm a coach and the South African Football Association will handle that. But I certainly believe that the players deserve the opportunity to play in the Chan tournament." – Sapa