In last night’s opening match of the World Cup between Mexico and South Africa, the center of attention was referee Wilton Sampaio and South Africa’s representative, Khuliso Mudau.
During one of South Africa’s attacks, which ended with a shot and a save by the Mexican goalkeeper, a controversial situation occurred that Brazilian referee Sampaio did not see.
However, immediately after the action ended, he received a call from the VAR room to review and assess whether Themba Zwane had intentionally hit Robert Alvarado in the face with his hand during the action.
Sampaio reviewed the footage and decided to show Zwane a red card, but the real showdown came when, under FIFA’s new transparency rule, he had to open the microphone to the entire stadium and explain his decision to millions of viewers on English-language television screens.
“Striker number 11 committed a serious foul by hitting a defender in the face with his hand. Decision: Direct free kick and red card,” was all he said in English over the public address system.
But the combination of a strong accent and a long selection of appropriate words that he said very poorly in a second turned a serious situation into unintentional comedy, and the face of South African player Khulis Mudau became real “meme” material.
The South African, who was standing right in front of the judge, looked at him in surprise because he didn’t understand a word Sampaio was saying in English.
