The Penalty Decision So Bad South Africa Are Demanding The Game Is Replayed

South Africa were on the wrong end of a penalty decision so poor that they are set to demand the game be replayed.

Bafana Bafana played Ghana in the World Cup qualifiers last night and the game was decided in incredibly controversial fashion.

Leicester City's Daniel Amartey went down unbelievably theatrically under the challenge of Rushine De Reuck in the first half and Ndiaye Maguette gave a spot-kick despite the protests.

Former Swansea and West Ham forward Andre Ayew put the penalty away and sent Ghana into the World Cup play-offs.

They have reached the next stage ahead of South Africa by a single goal and the 2010 hosts feel "robbed" - so much so that they plan to write to FIFA.

"The match officials have decided the game, which is not what is supposed to happen," SAFA chief executive Tebogo Mothlante said in a statement, as per BBC.

"We will be writing to both Caf [the Confederation of African Football] and [world governing body] Fifa - firstly to investigate how the game was handled and secondly to challenge some of these decisions.

'We have already registered with the match commissioner that we will be making a formal complaint. We are very disheartened by their actions and we can't let it destroy the players - when we have the chance to challenge, we will challenge.

"We feel very much robbed because it is not an isolated incident of a penalty. There are just a lot of questionable decisions by match officials and we will get an expert to dissect other incidents, so we can make a strong case."

A few years back, South Africa had to replay a 2018 World Cup qualifier vs Senegal due to a referee blunder that saw official Joseph Lamptey banned for life.

Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly was penalised for handball when the ball clearly struck his knee. South Africa, having won the original game 2-1, lost 2-0.

Senegal qualified for the World Cup and Mothlante feels they too should receive the same treatment.

"Of course we are looking at the precedent whereby Fifa ordered us to replay Senegal and we think that if justice needs to be served the same decision should be taken against this Ghana game."

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Topics: South Africa

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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