Damon: It was a hand ball

By Benjamin Nyirenda

On Tuesday Bafana Bafana played to a one all draw against Nigeria in the World Cup 2026 qualifiers at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein but the Nigeria’s equalising goal scored by Fulham FC defender Calvin Bassey was not supposed to stand as the ball hit his hand.

Former FIFA referee Jerome Damon told Eswatini Daily News that the goal should not have stood according to the laws of the game as it was a hand ball.

In an exclusive interview with this publication the former referee said that whether the ball hits the hand by accident or not but when the goal is scored with the help of the hand it’s a hand ball and it should not stand.

“Yes. The law describes it very clearly that if in the action of scoring and its its hits your hand even accidentally its a hand ball,” Damon said.

On whether the referee saw it or he was not able to see the hand ball Damon said that he is not sure if the referee saw the hand touching the ball before it was scored.

” I am not sure if he saw that the ball got against the hand. He had a clear view. I don’t thing it even crossed his mind I have to be honest but I can’t say for sure but when he headed the ball right, I looked at it and there is a handball there. But that’s because I am used to working with the VAR you see.

So immediately I picked up that there is a hand there without looking at the replay. And when they showed the replay I said yeah there is a hand ” Damon concluded.

Part of the law which Damon sent to Soccer Laduma reads as ” Its an offence if a player: scores in an opponents goal directly from their hand/ arm even if accidental, including by the goalkeeper. Immediately after the ball has touched their hand/arm, even if accidental.