On Saturday, Orlando Pirates defeated Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 in the Soweto Derby when referee Masixole Bambiso awarded the winning penalty during injury time.
Patrick "Tito" Maswanganyi converted the penalty in this PSL fixture, and opinions have varied on whether the decision was justified.
READ: Controversial Soweto Derby Penalty - Expert Weighs In
Soccer Laduma spoke with former PSL and FIFA referee Jerome Damon, who explained why the referee was justified in awarding the penalty that clinched the game for Pirates.
Cape Town-based Damon reminded the Siya crew in an exclusive interview that while football is a contact sport, it is primarily played with feet and not hands. Njabulo Blom arguably used his hands to hold back Relebohile Mofokeng, impeding his movement and affecting his shot on goal.
"Rules of the game are simple. You can't hold an opposition player when they are about to take an action. You know football is a contact sport but we play with our legs and not hands. Where were Blom's hands when Mofokeng was about to take the shot? All over him. Holding impacts and impeaches the action of the attacking player and he couldn't take his shot in the right way. And that's why he missed the target. So the referee was right to award a penalty there," Damon told Soccer Laduma.
Damon's view is different when compared to another legendary former referee, Errol Sweeney who pointed out that the official cannot change his decision after allowing the play to continue.
Damon instead noted that the referee correctly delayed blowing the whistle to assess the situation.
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"There was nothing wrong that the referee did by delaying blowing the whistle. There is a difference between advantage and delayed whistle blowing. In the modern game, match officials are encouraged to delay their whistle before either blowing for the foul or signalling an advantage for a foul committed. Why? Because once he signals advantage, and it does not materialise he cannot then bring it back for the original foul. This should settle the raging debate or add to it. He delayed the blowing and did not give the advantage so the penalty was the right decision there," Damon concluded.
Damon's insights provide clarity from his perspective, on the referee's decision-making process.
