REMIER Soccer League chairman Farai Jere says referee Thabani Bamala, who is in the eye of a storm in the wake of his handling of the showdown between Highlanders and CAPS United at Barbourfields on Sunday, should not be crucified for the controversial way in which he ruled out a late goal by the Green Machine.

Instead, said Jere, Bamala should be praised for the way he managed a game that was full of tension.

The Battle of the Cities encounter ended in a goalless stalemate, but CAPS United were left to feel hard done by Bamala after he ruled Dominic Chungwa’s late goal had been struck from an offside position.

Jere, who is also the CAPS United president, said he would advise his club against lodging any formal complaint, against Bamala for Sunday’s incidents insisting that, apart from the moments that have triggered debate, he believed the referee had handled the game well.State media