Soccer
Sserunkuma's card rescinded
2008-12-03 12:41
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Geoffrey Sserunkuma (Gallo Images)
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Johannesburg - Justice has been done.
As expected the red card given to Bloemfontein Celtic striker Geoffrey Sserunkuma by referee Abdul Ebrahim during the Telkom Knockout semi-final against Orlando Pirates at Durban's Chatsworth Stadium last weekend, has been rescinded.
Pirates won the match 3-0.
This was confirmed by the chairperson of the South African Football Association's Referees Review Committee, Steve Goddard on Wednesday.
However, the jury is still out on the controversial Ebrahim who in consultation with his fourth official, sent off the wrong player during an incident when Pirates striker Irvin Mhlambi was elbowed by Cyrille Mubiala, but for some reason the fourth official indicated Ugandan Sserunkuma as the culprit.
Said Goddard: "We will be meeting later today (Wednesday) - our third this week on this matter - to decided what punishment, if any, will be meted out to the match official."
This is not the first time Ebrahim has made a mistake in a major cup-tie. He was suspended for a week after last season's Knockout final between Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns when he allowed a Sundowns player, Patrick Apataki, to come on as a substitute after extra time in order that he could participate in the penalty shootout, which is against the rules.
Ebrahim was "yellow carded" and suspended for a week after that foul. But he could face a bigger punishment this time. Ebrahim was also roundly criticised by clubs and officials for his part in the "Gary Goldstone saga" earlier this season.
Maritzburg United defender Goldstone was given a yellow card by Ebrahim, despite a savage elbow in the face to Kaizer Chiefs striker Tshepo Bulu during an Absa Premiership league match.
Both the Premier Soccer League and United sanctioned Goldstone for that foul. He was fined by his club and suspended for two matches by the PSL disciplinary committee.
There were sighs of relief from the Celtic camp and coach Much D'Avray who said earlier he had no doubt the red card would be rescinded as the referee had booked the wrong player. Sserunkuma will be available for Sunday's bottom-of-the-log cruch Premiership clash against Bay United at Port Elizabeth's ERPU Stadium.