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Noel Munzabwa in Manzini, Swaziland
THE Warriors’ exit from the Total Africa Nations Championships (Chan) has claimed the scalps of Swaziland referee Thulani Sibandze and his assistant Petros Mbingo, who have been provisionally suspended for allowing Namibia’s feigned penalty to stand.

Zimbabwe lost 4-5 in a dramatic penalty shootout to Namibia in the Chan qualifier after the Warrios beat the Brave Warriors 1-0 in regulation time on July 23 to level the aggregate 1-1. Namibia had won the first leg 1-0 at home.

Zimbabwe converted their first three penalties through Devon Chafa, Praise Tonha and substitute Milton Ncube, and the Namibians also successfully converted their first two spot-kicks, only for controversy to erupt when Dynamo Fredricks stepped up to take their third spot-kick.

Fredricks embarked on his run-up and then just before striking the ball, completely stopped as he feigned his shot. Zimbabwe goalkeeper Herbert Rusawo committed himself to his right and with the advantage of knowing where the goalkeeper had chosen to move, Fredricks coolly rolled the ball to the other side.

Caf wrote to the National Football Association of Swaziland provisionally suspending the duo pending investigations.

Furthermore, the continental football governing body requested additional reports on the incident from the duo, saying information in their post-match reports submitted to the secretariat was inadequate.

According to yesterday’s edition of the Times of Swaziland, Caf said the suspension of the pair was with immediate effect.

Both Sibandze and Mbingo could not be reached for comment, but National Football Association of Swaziland chief executive officer Frederick Mngomezulu “acknowledged receipt of communication on the matter” with no further elaboration.

While feigning to fool the goalkeeper is not an infringement, according to the Laws of the Game, it becomes an offence when the one taking the penalty kick completely stops in his stride to gain an unfair advantage over the goalkeeper.

The player should never come to a complete stop just before kicking the ball.

The rules were revised just before the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa by the International Football Association Board, which has the authority to write the rules and regulations that govern world football, and have been in force ever since.

Law 14 of the game that deals with penalties and how they should be taken, states that an “infringement” occurs and “sanctions” are applied when there is “illegal feigning”.

“A player who deliberately stops at the end of their run and then feigns to gain an advantage is deliberately breaking the law,” the IFAB says in its revised law book.

“This is an act of deliberate unsporting behaviour, so as well as the caution, the player does not deserve to have a second chance to score. This stronger punishment should deter an offence which is sometimes difficult to detect.” — @NoelMunzabwa.