In City Press Sport: Keeping up with Victor Gomes’ game of cards; Man City’s Uefa ban could harm English football

What you can expect in the Sport section this week:

Keeping up with Gomes’ game of cards

South Africa's Victor Gomes has established himself as the most card-happy referee in the PSL.

The 37-year-old Fifa-accredited match official might not have reached the same figures as Howard Webb or Mike Dean, but Gomes’ penchant for brandishing the yellow and red cards almost willy-nilly sets him apart from his colleagues at home.

Tim Spirit column: Victor doesn’t have to instil fear to get respect

Timothy Molobi looks at how soccer referee Victor Gomes doesn’t shy away from making unpopular decisions, either – right or wrong. The thing about match officials – here at home, at least – is that they have to live with their decisions as they do not have the benefit of video assistant referee replays like leagues overseas do, he writes.

Matlaba has the inside dope on his former club

The revival of Pirates, who were 11th on the Premiership log when new head coach Josef Zinnbauer took over from caretaker Rhulani Mokwena in December, has largely been because of the German tactician as well as striker Gabadinho Mhango.

Bucs midfielder Luvuyo Memela has also emerged as another force behind Bucs’ rejuvenation.

Man City’s Uefa ban could harm English football

Uefa’s decision on Friday to ban Manchester City from the next two Champions League campaigns  will most likely have far-reaching repercussions for the club.

On the surface, there is, of course, the fact that the Citizens will not be able to take part in the lucrative competition and will therefore miss out on the money they would earn.

‘Franzo’ reflects on 40 years in women’s football

Daniel Mothowagae looks at how former Safa technical director of women’s football Fran Hilton-Smith went through so many trials and tribulations in the game for four decades that, had she served in the army, she would have earned war veteran status.

Full circle and ready  for more

Today’s T20 international decider against England at Centurion comes on the heels of two matches that ended with thrilling final-over heroics.

On Friday night, it was England and Tom Curran who emerged triumphant by two runs; on Wednesday, it was Lungi Ngidi who bowled the Proteas to a one-run victory. After Friday’s game, Ngidi sits with a strike rate of 9.8 in just nine matches.

At 23, the strapping, big-built bowler with the beaming, brilliant smile seems to have been around  for much longer.

It’s interesting, then, that he talks of the “youngsters” as the most striking aspect of how the Proteas’ dressing room has changed since his return from injury.

Side Entry column: Why can’t the Boks play in the Six Nations as well as the Rugby Championship?

In all the speculation that has done the rounds about the Springboks’ prospects since rumours of the their possibly playing in the Six Nations in 2024, nobody has floated the idea of Jacques Nienaber’s men campaigning in both competitions.

Hanging Judge Column: Refs are there to adjudicate, not chat

I have long said that referees should do the job they are supposed to do, and nothing else.

They shouldn’t make comments other than what is required in the line of their duty.

What am I talking about?

In a recent English Premier League game between Sheffield United and Bournemouth, referee Jonathan Moss was described as “a disgrace” by Bournemouth’s Dan Gosling, writes Dr Errol Sweeney.

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City Press is an agenda-setting South African news brand that publishes across platforms. Its flagship print edition is distributed on a Sunday.