The controversial referee who officiated the first round league game between AmaZulu and Kaizer Chiefs is back.
Jelly Chavani is the referee who awarded Amakhosi a controversial penalty that earned Staurt Baxter’s boys a point away to Usuthu on October 2.
At the time, Chiefs were trailing AmaZulu, thanks to a goal by Luvuyo Memela in the 48th-minute but Chavani awarded a penalty deep into stoppage time.
What caused a social media stir was how the penalty was awarded in favour of Chiefs.
Chavani took more than 15 seconds to make up his mind and awarded the said penalty – the game had already been continuing when he stopped play and pointed to the spot.
Keagan Dolly then stepped up and rescued the point for Chiefs, but from that minute, Chavani already knew that he was in hot water. He was subsequently slapped with a six-week suspension along with the fourth official on the day Moeketso Molelekoa by the South African Football Association (SAFA).
SAFA’s head of referees Abdul Ebrahim has now confirmed the return of Chavani whose six-week suspension ended on November 16.
“The suspension is over after Chavani underwent the rehabilitation programme,” said Ebrahim.
“While he was serving the ban, he was officiating in the local provincial leagues and he was assessed by national assessors.
“He was put through the programme by Enoch Molefe, who is a technical committee member,” he added.
