Former FIFA referee Jerome Damon has staunchly defended the controversial penalty decision that allowed Peter Shalulile to score his record-breaking 130th PSL goal, insisting the referee made the correct call despite widespread criticism.
Damon's comment comes after Saturday's 1-0 victory for Mamelodi Sundowns over Stellenbosch FC was followed by debate over whether the foul that led to Shalulile's historic penalty occurred inside or outside the penalty area.
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Speaking to Soccer Laduma in an exclusive interview, Damon explained that the referee was positioned perfectly to make the crucial decision that helped Shalulile surpass Siyabonga Nomvethe's previous record of 129 goals.
"If it was a holding offense, holding is where the offense ends. Pushing is where the offense starts. So if the holding starts on the line or inside the penalty area, then it's a penalty. So, it's correct, the referee was very close, he saw the holding and he deemed the holding to be on the line, so therefore it's a penalty. He was 100% correct," Damon told Soccer Laduma.
The former FIFA referee also addressed another decision from the weekend, explaining why Mduduzi Shabalala's first-half goal was correctly disallowed for offside during Kaizer Chiefs' match against Golden Arrows.
"It was offside on gaining an advantage because the Golden Arrows player does not play the ball. He puts his foot there to block it, so he doesn't play in a free manner because he had a Chiefs player ahead of him. He doesn't deliberately play the ball. It's a deflected ball which deflects to a player in an offside position and puts the ball in the back of the net, and therefore it's an offside," Damon told the Siya crew.
Damon also dismissed claims for a penalty in favour of Arrows during the same match, when their player appeared to be brought down in the box.
"So in that incident, you have two players running towards the ball. Yes, the player's arm seems like it comes across the body of the Arrows player, but he doesn't pull him, he doesn't push him, he just leans towards the ball, a regular football contact. No penalty. Play on. The other player is looking for contact so that he can go down to appeal for a penalty, but that is no penalty," Damon concluded.
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Damon's comprehensive defense of the weekend's officiating decisions provides valuable insight into the complexities referees face during crucial moments. His support for the penalty that enabled Shalulile's historic achievement may help quell some criticism, though debates over marginal calls remain a constant feature of football worldwide.
Both Sundowns and Chiefs recorded 1-0 victories and remain unbeaten in the Betway Premiership this season.
