Ref Gomes praised for disclosing bribe offer

Sy Lerman

He is more often the subject of controversy and indignation, but now high-profiled “love me or leave me” referee Victor Gomes has been hailed as a hero by Caf.

And it all relates to the disclosure Gomes made regarding his handling of the recent Caf game between Plateau United of Nigeria and Algeria’s USM from which the referee disclosed he had received a substantial bribe offer to affect the outcome.

Gomes, together with his match officials, immediately informed Caf of the details of the brazen attempt to influence the course of the game – and the matter is now under investigation.

“Stories of such bribery offers are often bandied about,” said Caf deputy secretary-general Antho- ny Baffoe, “but normally amount to unsubstantiated rumours. It is refreshing to have a referee coming forward.

“Gomes has enhanced the refereeing fraternity by coming forward and rejecting the temptation of accepting what was not an inconsiderable amount of money – and facing any other considerations that might follow.”

“This is a boost for our referees generally,” said Zolani Nkombelo, head of Safa’s referees association. “to hear a referee praised for his actions instead of being maligned for any errors he might have made on the pitch and subjected to criticsm”.

As for Gomes, who has in the past been criticised for ignoring the time-worn dictum for a good referee to be “seen rather than be heard”, his popularity is sure to be enhanced in leaps and bounds.