Referrals under scanner again

The Indians were celebrating their third goal when umpires Roel van Eert and Ged Curran decided to heed South African appeal for a referral earlier in the play, and subsequently decided to award them a penalty corner, shocking the fans.

Coach Jose Brasa said it was a strange move on the part of the officials. “You can’t wait for so long to go for a referral. It has to be done immediately. And I don’t think that short corner should have been awarded to the South Africans. The hit by one of their players struck Vikram Pillay on his body and it should have been considered dangerous play. The ball certainly wasn’t going towards goal for them to give a penalty corner,” said the Indian coach.

Brasa also said his request for the pitch to be watered properly had been turned down by the officials earlier. “The pitch was dry, that was why we couldn’t stop two of our short corners,” he said and stressed that he didn’t feel India were being victimised. “Our country, our water, and still they won’t do it. But I don’t think we are being victimised. I don’t think these things are done on purpose,” he said.

South African captain Austin Smith admitted the referral was a bizarre incident. “It shows the flaw in the system. They have to decide how much play you can go back to for a referral. But finally, the right decision was made,” he said.