Safa head of referees warns Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi could be handed extended ban due to added time red card - 'It could be more'

South African Football Association (Safa) head of refereeing Abdul Ebrahim has commented on Nasreddine Nabi being dismissed during a match between Kaizer Chiefs and Golden Arrows on Sunday.

The Amakhosi coach was given a red card in the tunnel after his team's 1-0 loss to Golden Arrows in a PSL match after confronting referee Olani Kwinda following the game.

Nabi voiced his dissatisfaction regarding the referee's additional time and accused Kwinda of attempting to assist Abafana Bes'thende in defeating Chiefs.

Consequently, Ebrahim has stated that Nabi's actions could result in serious consequences.

"Added time belongs to the referee, not the coaches. The referee determines how much additional time is played. This is referred to as the 'referee's optional time'," Ebrahim told KickOff.com.

"Coaches and teams are always going to speculate and seek to protect themselves, but ultimately, the referee makes the final decision - whether it’s one minute, five minutes, or ten minutes. That decision solely rests with the referee.

"That decision falls to the League. If a player misbehaves and receives a red card, that’s one matter. What happens afterward is entirely up to the League. The League will assess the severity of the misconduct that led to the red card and make a decision based on their competition rules," he added.

"It could result in a one-match or two-match suspension, or it could be more, depending on the circumstances. Referees act on the field according to what they observe."

This is not the first occasion Nabi has clashed with referees. He previously spoke out about the quality of match officiating in the Premier Soccer League after Chiefs' defeat to Polokwane City in early December last year.

Amakhosi assistant coach Khalil Ben Youssef, who addressed the media following the match, along with the other technical team members, will oversee the next two Chiefs matches in Nabi's absence.

A defeat against Arrows led to Chiefs moving down to sixth place in the PSL standings, having registered five defeats, three draws, and achieving five wins in 13 games.

Nabi will be absent for the next Chiefs' league match against the in-form Sekhukhune United on Sunday and the Nedbank Cup last 32 match against minnows Free Agents FC later this month.

The Tunisian coach is anticipated to return in the Soweto Derby against arch-rivals Orlando Pirates in early February.