Bandari Address Controversial Late Penalty Reversal Against Gor Mahia

Bandari FC have moved to silence critics surrounding a late withdrawal of a penalty that denied league leaders Gor Mahia a chance to extend their lead at the summit in their Premier League encounter at the Kasarani Stadium on Sunday, April 19.

The Dockers justified the referee’s decision to overturn the 83rd-minute spot-kick by drawing a direct parallel to a previous officiating incident in their match against Bidco United.

The club argued that Sunday’s reversal was a correct application of the rules, mirroring a sequence of events they had experienced before.

The match, which left Gor Mahia just three points clear of AFC Leopards, reached its boiling point when referee Phanuel Omire pointed to the spot following a challenge on Shariff Musa.

However, after intense protests from Bandari players, led by captain Allaine Ngeleka, Omire consulted his assistant and subsequently overturned the decision, much to the fury of the home supporters.

To address the controversy, Bandari FC released a statement shared on their Facebook page. Rather than focusing solely on the Gor Mahia match, the club used their experience against Bidco United to illustrate the procedural logic behind the reversal.

"During our match against Bidco, an incident involving Msagha in the penalty area led to the referee initially awarding a penalty. Following protests from Bidco players, the referee consulted the assistant referee, who was in a better position to view the situation clearly. After this consultation, the decision was reviewed, and the penalty was subsequently overturned," part of the statement read.

By citing this specific event, Bandari sought to frame yesterday’s incident as a standard exercise of official consultation rather than a lapse in judgment.

The coastal side further emphasised that the ultimate goal of the officials is accuracy, even if it requires a reversal of an initial call. They highlighted that the assistant referee's vantage point is a vital tool for the centre official.

"In line with FKF Laws of the Game, referees are permitted to seek guidance from their assistants when they do not have a clear view of an incident. Based on the assistant referee’s perspective, the final decision reflected what was deemed to be the correct call," the statement added.

While the result leaves Gor Mahia reflecting on missed opportunities and a dressing room security breach reported earlier that afternoon, Bandari FC remains steadfast in its defence of the officiating process.

"We acknowledge that such moments can be contentious, but they are part of the game. Similar situations can occur for any team, and it is important for all stakeholders to remain informed about the Laws of the Game. We take this as a learning experience and remain focused on continuous improvement moving forward," the statement concluded.