THE legendary Jomo Sono has urged soccer bosses to stop walking their teams off the field in protest against what they deem to be bad decisions by the referees.

Sono, who was responding to Dynamos boss Pat Malabela causing the abandonment of a game last week - by ordering his team off the field in their National First Division match against Polokwane City - said such actions were not good for the image of the sport.

Malabela was angered that Dynamos had "a legitimate goal" disallowed and a penalty awarded against them in the 88th minute.

City were leading 1-0 from the penalty in question, which was converted by Xolani Puleng, when Malabela told his team to walk off.

Sono said despite having some bad decisions awarded against his team, Jomo Cosmos, he would never encourage anybody from staging a walkout. He also distanced himself from statements that Malabela abandoned the game after seeking advice from him.

"That is utter rubbishHe (Malabela) came to me irate about the referees, but I can't be associated with such statements," said Sono.

"I have also been a victim of questionable judgments and not once have I walked off the field. So how can I advise somebody to do that?

"The ref's decision concerning the disallowed goal (by Dynamos) and the penalty awarded to Polokwane City were, in fact, correct."

Sono, known for shooting from the hip, came to the defence of referees, saying they are only human and make mistakes. "It is very difficult to be a referee because when they do good and a club wins, they do not get validation. But when a club loses they get insulted and assaulted."

Malabela said it was untrue that he consulted Sono for advice: "I have never consulted Jomo for anything regarding the running of Dynamos.

"All I said was that Jomo was at the stadium when we played Polokwane City, I went to him because he told someone he wanted to talk to me. I'm surprised Jomo has issued a statement."