the monitor

BFL rebuffs GU's plea on Galaxy's red card

Red-carded: Jwaneng Galaxy goalkeeper, James receiving a red card.PIC:PHATSIMO KAPENG
Red-carded: Jwaneng Galaxy goalkeeper, James receiving a red card.PIC:PHATSIMO KAPENG

Botswana Football League (BFL) chief executive, Bennett Mamelodi has dismissed Gaborone United over efforts to intervene over a red card appeal involving Jwaneng Galaxy goalkeeper, Victor James.

The Galaxy player was shown a red card for handling the ball outside the box during a league match against BDF XI on Sunday. The defending champions won the tie 3-2 but Galaxy have launched an appeal with the BFL challenging the red card decision. But in a twist, it was GU that wrote to the BFL, urging the league authority to dismiss Galaxy's appeal. GU general manager (GM), Thapelo Mothusi in a letter written on Tuesday, said his club was concerned with Galaxy's appeal. GU said the complaint was unlawful by FIFA laws and, therefore, should not be entertained. “As GM of GU, I would like to address this matter by emphasising two key points.

The FIFA laws of the game explicitly state that a referee’s decision during a match is final and binding,” Mothusi said. “The referee’s authority extends to all match-related incidents, including disciplinary actions such as the issuance of red cards,” he said. Mothusi said FIFA's principle is vital for preserving the integrity of the game, ensuring consistency in the enforcement of rules and protecting the credibility of match officials. “Allowing appeals against referee decisions, unless there is incontrovertible evidence of a procedural breach, sets a dangerous precedent. It risks opening doors for constant challenges to match decisions undermining the efficient operation of the league and protecting the credibility of match officials,” he said.

Editor's Comment
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“Desperate people do desperate things”– Michael BrooksHowever, this desperate pursuit of employment comes with its own negative outcomes. Therefore, Batswana must guard against becoming easy targets for human traffickers, labour exploiters and other transnational criminal networks that prey on vulnerable job seekers.Numbers don’t lie. The recent revelation by the Botswana Police Service that 22 Batswana have been reported missing after...

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