Seething Gor Mahia coach takes issue with referee after Kasarani stalemate

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FKFPL Seething Gor Mahia coach takes issue with referee after Kasarani stalemate

Festus Chuma 09:45 - 06.04.2023

The K'Ogalo mentor vented his anger at referee as he feels he decided the outcome of their match against Sofapaka.

Gor Mahia coach Jonathan McKinstry has slammed referee Israel Mpaima's officiating during their clash against Sofapaka on Wednesday afternoon.

K'Ogalo were held to a goalless draw by the Batoto ba Mungu in their Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) match played at Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani.

https://twitter.com/FC_Sofapaka/status/1643673644382691328?s=20

McKinstry believes that Sofapaka goalkeeper Simon Masaka should have been penalized for handling a back pass from his teammate, which would have seen Gor Mahia awarded an indirect free kick at the point where he dealt with the ball with his hands.

"I have no questions about the freekicks and yellow cards he gave against Gor Mahia, as I think they were all 100% correct. However, I don't know how a goalkeeper can catch the ball on his goalline from a back pass without a yellow card," said McKinstry.

McKinstry further criticized the match official: "I do not know how Patrick Kaddu can be running through the middle then get hacked from behind, and there was no yellow card. I am curious to know how Benson Omala can run through the penalty box and get pulled down, but there was no yellow card.

If Geoffrey Ochieng did that to a winger, it is definitely a freekick if someone went through the box and there was no penalty.

Sofapaka played a great game, and they deserved that point, and we played a perfect game and were just a little bit unlucky. But the center referee today should never again referee any K'Ogalo game or any topflight game until he goes and gets some training. Referees can make honest mistakes, but not knowing the rules is a real worry."

This is not the first time McKinstry has hit out at the standard of officiating in the FKF PL. On February 12, the Irishman expressed his displeasure with the match officials after seeing his side draw 1-1 with Ulinzi Stars at the Nyayo National Stadium.

During that game, the former Uganda national team head coach believed they deserved a penalty when Benson Omala was tackled by a Ulinzi defender Bonaventure Muchika inside the box.

https://twitter.com/gormahiafcke/status/1643615661233520641?s=20

Despite the draw, they top the table with 46 points from 22 matches, four points ahead of second-placed Tusker FC, who have a game in hand with 42 points.

Gor Mahia will be in action on Sunday as they lock horns with Kariobangi Sharks in a league match at Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani.