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'Stamp out dirty play'

Linda Moreotsene

Linda Moreotsene

While yesterday's match between Kaizer Chiefs and Maritzburg United had the potential to be an epic, the enduring memory from the contest will be the disconcerting sight of young striker Tshepo Bulu being stretchered off the field, drenched in blood.

The most disturbing thing about the incident was that when he struck Bulu in the face, perpetrator Gary Goldstone was not even tussling for the ball and secondly, referee Abdullah Ebrahim did not think the challenge warranted a red card.

Chiefs went on to lose the match 3-2. Club chairman Kaizer Motaung was mainly resigned when contacted to comment on the incident.

"I am not surprised, when you consider that the player concerned, [Goldstone] is used to this kind of thing. He has done this in the past and has not suffered any consequence for it. He has been left to do this to other players for too long, since his time with Bloemfontein Celtic," Motaung said.

Bulu had been taken to the Chatsworth Hospital, and Motaung had not yet decided whether the team would pursue the matter with the Absa Premiership.

"It is the work of the review committee to sit down and watch the match and decide what to do with this," he said.

Coming as it did hardly a week after soccer lovers saw SuperSport United striker Anthony Laffor unconscious on the pitch after a challenge by Shere Lekgothoane, could it be there is an element of dangerous play invading our soccer that referees are not aware of?

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