Chippa United head coach Kwanele Kopo has accused a match official of making a “xenophobic statement” towards Bienvenu Eva Nga in a match against AmaZulu FC.
In a game where Usuthu United managed to secure a remarkable turnaround, clinching their first Betway Premiership victory of the season on Tuesday night, a dispute erupted between the two teams, culminating in the red card of Abbubaker Mobara.
While the Chippa coach acknowledged Usuthu’s victory as being “won fairly,” he had a notable dissatisfaction with certain officiating decisions.
Kopo revealed that he overheard Cameroonian striker Eva Nga complaining to assistant referee Kamohelo Ramutsindela about a missed foul against the opponents.
In response, the linesman allegedly told Nga that he talked too much and would be dealt with.
Another incident saw a heated exchange between Eva Nga and Ramutsindela, during which the assistant referee, according to Kopo, reminded the former Orlando Pirates player of his foreign status and the need to show respect.
KWANELE KOPO SHOCKED BY ‘XENOPHOBIC’ REMARKS FROM OFFICIAL
“Earlier in the game just before Eva got the yellow card, the assistant referee the first official the first assistant referee, I think Eva said something that something happened in front of you and you didn’t see it and the assistant referee says to him you talk too much I’m coming for you,” said Kopo.
“30 seconds later Eva gets a yellow card and we say to him you are threatening us you cannot threaten us. If I say to a referee I’m coming for you and get sent off.
“I said to Thando Ndzandzeka, ‘what you are doing is wrong’. Why did I say that? Ighodaro earlier in the game commits a foul with his elbow on the fullback he doesn’t get a talking to he doesn’t get a yellow card.
“And a few other fouls happened like that and I immediately said we’re going to get a first yellow card. But anyway so after that commotion Eva comes back.
“He’s still having a go at the assistant, now I’m trying to block the assistant referee I don’t know if you saw me I’m trying to block him because he’s charging at Eva and then he says to my assistant coach he says, ‘Ask him which country he’s from this is my country he must respect me’.
“That’s what got me a ruffled up. That is a xenophobic statement to make. We cannot accept and allow that in our football we cannot not only in football but in society.”
Kopo also expressed concern about the lack of accountability for match officials in South African football, claiming they are often shielded from consequences of misconduct.
KWANELE KOPO ON SA REFEREES – ‘THEY ARE SO PROTECTED’
“The sad thing is that if you say anything to them they hold all the power if you say anything to them they tell you I’ll send you off now,” he continued.
“Now, how do we deal with the situation where a match official, a FIFA accredited match official says to a Cameroonian player, ‘Which country are you from? This my country you must respect me’.
“… and I didn’t want to say too many things in the post-match interview because they are so protected in South Africa.
“You know there’s also this referee’s discretion. When you ask why doesn’t he give a yellow card to Ighodaro? No, it’s up to the referees discretion. Then why do we need the laws if everything is up to the referees discretion?”
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