Former Bafana Bafana captain Neil Tovey says nothing will come out of South Africa’s appeal against Fifa’s rejection of their protest in their 2022 World Cup qualifying defeat to Ghana.
The South African Football Association (SAFA) says they will consider their options when they receive details of why Fifa on Friday rejected their request for a replay of the 1-0 loss to the Black Stars last month in the Group G decider of the African qualifiers for next year’s World Cup.
Fifa says the protest claiming match manipulation, bribery and corruption, and the referee awarding a dubious penalty is inadmissible, hence dismissed.
The verdict legitimized Ghana’s place in the playoffs of the African qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
“I told you, it’s very difficult to overturn a referee’s decision,” Tovey told Kickoff.com.
“Unless you can prove he has taken a bribe you will not get that decision in your favour.
“It’s extremely difficult to get a ruling on the referee’s decision unless you can prove he has taken a bribe.
“I can’t advise SAFA, I’m not in a position to do that and Danny Jordaan is clued up enough as he is part of Fifa.
“What I think, is that they don’t have a chance with an appeal. It’s very seldom you get a favourable decision unless you can prove they have taken a bribe.
“But even with the bad decisions of the referee, you can’t change the results.
“However the referee could still be punished for his bad decisions by not being chosen to officiate in the Afcon or even the 2022 World Cup.
“But for Bafana Bafana and SAFA, the decision will not be overturned.”
Fifa in the ruling says South Africa has a 10-day window to appeal the decision after receiving the verdict.