Nedbank Cup: Controversial Penalty Call Causes Storm of Debate as Orlando Pirates Defeats Amazulu in Last 32

• Orlando Pirates defeated Amazulu 1-0 in the Last 32 of the Nedbank Cup to advance to the Last 16 of the competition
• A controversial moment saw referee Masixole Bambiso not award Amazulu what appeared to be a stonewall penalty
• The call was a major flashpoint on social media as reacted in a divided manner to the incident that will stick long in the memory of neutral and bias football fans

Social media was ablaze in the resulting fallout of the Nedbank Cup Last 32 match between Orlando Pirates and Amazulu at Orlando Stadium.

A strike by Deon Hotto was the difference as the Buccaneers edged Usuthu 1-0 in an engrossing match fraught with controversy.

Tapelo Xoki missed an 85th penalty, which was saved by impressive Bucs goalkeeper Siyabonga Mpontshane after Abel Mabaso unluckily handled the ball.

However, a bigger call was made early in the match by referee Masixole Bambiso. According to Soccer Laduma, the hosts were fortunate not to have a penalty decision go against them midway through the first stanza after Goodman Mosele handled the ball in a sliding challenge in the box, with Bambiso letting it go after remonstrations by AmaZulu players.

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Cricket

@mkhululi_simon said:

"It's not a penalty, please educate your commentators, it's embarrassing. I remember Victor Gomes once refused to give such as a penalty. When a player is falling he balances using his hands, if the ball hit the hands it's not a penalty."

@Ntrulubisi responded:

"But he wasn't falling. He was making a tackle and the ball went between his legs and he stoped the ball with his trailing hand."

@Skhumba said:

"So that means a player will be penalised for handball if: The hand/arm is clearly away from the body and outside the "body line". The player clearly leans into the path of the ball."

@Hlabzin2:

"Penalty... The player did not fall due to being pushed he was dribbled and caught the ball in the run of play and prevented the amazulu player from getting the ball and tried to get up still holding the roll of the ball TWICE.."

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Football

@MabuselaZano said:

"No controversy at all, nina you need to read the laws of the game"

@LindobuBeat said:

But why the referee blew a whistle in 1st place ayii .is the one who made this so controversial"