Birds' beef is in the post

23 September 2014 - 02:02 By Mark Gleeson
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Moroka Swallows will not be able to get the red card erroneously awarded to new signing Anver Esterhuizen overturned, but they have written a letter of complaint about the referee's conduct, chairman Leon Prins said yesterday.

Esterhuizen was sent off in the 38th minute of a recent surprise 2-0 home defeat to Chippa United that might have turned out differently had Swallows not been forced to play with 10 men.

Referee Lwandile Mfiki ruled that Esterhuizen struck Chippa's Ugonna Uzochukwu in the face, but replays show the Nigerian was feigning injury.

Prins said he was going to seek redress but was stymied by the fact that red cards, for which players get an automatic two-match ban, cannot be rescinded.

"We are left with the only recourse, having to write a letter of complaint that will go on the file of the referee," said Prins.

Mfiki issued two more red cards; to assistant coach Fani Madida and goalkeeper coach Edgar da Silva for remonstrating over the sending off.

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