Analysis by Peter Kanjere:
If referee Misheck Juwa’s decision to award Blue Eagles a penalty at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe in Sunday’s Airtel Top 8 final was scandalous, Nyasa Big Bullets’ fans and players reaction was pure mob justice that has no place in football.
Unless your name is Juwa, Bullets’ left-back Yamikani Fodya clearing the ball first then tangling with Eagles winger Gilbert Chirwa is an offence warranting a penalty.
But what is a penalty? Law 12 of the Game lists down offences which warrant an award of a penalty kick for an offence committed in the penalty area.
It states that a penalty kick can be awarded if a player is “playing in a manner considered by the referee to be dangerous, charging fairly, i.e. with the shoulder, when the ball is not within playing distance of the players concerned and they are definitely not trying to play it; when not playing the ball, intentionally obstructing an opponent.”
In this particular incident, Eagles’ winger Chirwa seemed to have dived and slumped to the floor—as if hit by a train— after such minimal contact by Fodya. If anything, Juwa should have penalised Chirwa for simulation.
Unfortunately, Juwa did not. With such a decision, Stuart Mbunge converted from the spot to earn Eagles a 1-0 win and with it, the Airtel Top 8 trophy and K15 million prize.
But wait a minute. This was Bullets’ first defeat in 15 games in all competitions this season.
In the previous 14 games they have played, Bullets must have benefitted from erroneous decisions. Football has always been a game of errors.
In respect of this, world football governing body, Fifa’s decided to deploy Video Assistant Referees at the Fifa World Cup in Russia, knowing pretty well that it is not easy for the whistlemen to get right all decisions on the pitch.
Morocco have penned Fifa complaining against some of referees’ decisions they felt contributed to the Atlas Lions’ premature exit from the World Cup.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles also complained bitterly after being denied penalty appeals in the game against Argentina.
Football analyst George Kaudza Masina raised the same issue that despite obvious mistakes which the elite referees are making in Russia, the reaction is measured.
“Referees are making mistakes at the World Cup but people are not reacting. They take it on their chin,” Kaudza Masina observed.
The problem with Bullets fans and their players was failing to take Juwa’s decision on their chin.
No amount of incompetent officiation, as unacceptable as it can be, warranted such a raw display of savagery by Bullets supporters and players, of all the people, in front of television cameras.
Even more considering that fans committed an offence of pitch invasion.
It was a case of Bullets thinking that two wrongs can make a right.
It was for this reason that a statement which Bullets president, Konrad Buckle, released during the week was watered down by apportioning the blame for the violence on the referee.
“We, therefore, appeal and implore all our supporters to desist from any unsporting behaviour. We are committed to work together with the Football Association of Malawi and law enforcement agencies to look at the clips and identify what caused the mayhem,” Buckle said in the statement.
“It is our view that the incident was avoidable had the FA taken precautions prior to the match by identifying and allocating competent officiating personnel. The upward trend of increasing violence at our stadiums has been noted with great concern, through dubious decisions made by matchday referees.”
Seasoned football journalist, Madalitso Phiri of Capital Radio, also had problems accepting Bullets’ regrets over the violence.
“It is an attempt to clear their image. It is good to condemn violence but are they being sincere? They started the statement well and they should have gone ahead to say the referees’ decision is final. They have diluted their own statement.
“In the statement they are pushing the blame on referees. It is like saying ‘I condemn my child for stealing but he was tempted,” Phiri said.
What Bullets forgot was that referees are assessed after every game and those that commit grave basic errors are penalised, including being banned for life.
Bullets cannot be the jury and judge at the same time. Bullets had a solid case over Juwa’s poor judgement but they will be judged based on their reaction.
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