The Africa Cup of Nations final referee Victor Gomes mocked Egypt star Mohamed Salah by offering him his whistle and cards after the Liverpool forward complained about the decision. Salah endured a frustrating evening in Cameroon as his Egypt side lost Sunday night's final to Senegal, with his Reds team-mate Sadio Mane scoring the winning penalty in a shootout win for the Lions of Teranga. And during the first half in Yaounde, Salah was complaining about a free kick being awarded to Senegal, before referee Victor Gomes offered him his whistle and cards, asking if Salah thought he could do better after his complaints. (Source: Daily Mail)
Victor Gomes, who's known for his straight-talking manner, no-nonsense approach, and his by-the-book officiating, said he had a responsibility to handle what could have been a flash-point moment in a level-headed manner. "I respect the players that I officiate and I don't like to talk about the decisions I make on the field," Gomes said. "However, I do like to highlight some points for educational purposes and I also believe we have a responsibility to report positively on football matters so that our work is understood. Football has evolved tremendously and so have the players, who are highly respected and paid. Refereeing also has to evolve in that manner. We can't stick to the old adage of officiating in a set way and style. All I can say is that on Sunday, I chose to manage a top-class player in a way I thought it would be deemed appropriate and responsible. Football was the ultimate winner on the day." Gomes gained a reputation over the years for not being shy of brandishing cards to players and officials, while also handing out penalties regardless of the time and nature of games. "I know that 'Penaldinho' has come and gone, but I'm proud of the media that we have in South Africa," Gomes said. "They keep us on our toes and I have matured, but I think players understand me better now. If you also scrutinise my games, I'm also the biggest joker on the field. If you respect me, we'll have a beautiful game of football, but the silent words you can't hear must be dealt with. I've also made many mistakes and errors of judgment and I've beaten myself up for them. The one thing though I felt I've always been, is to be consistent. The same Gomes you see now is the same Gomes of five years ago." (Source: News24)
