South African referee Victor Gomes rejected a bribe while officiating one of the matches in the African competitions, stating that his success in his career is attributed to the family he has. He revealed that his dream since childhood was to become a referee. The African Football Confederation announced that Gomes would officiate the match between Egypt and Senegal in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations 2021 held in Cameroon on Sunday.
**Beginnings of Passion**
Gomes, 39 years old, was born to Portuguese parents in South Africa. His brother played football professionally for a short time, while his father was fond of the game due to his roots from the Portuguese island of Madeira, known for its love of football. Gomes mentioned on the official site of the African Confederation: "I played as a right back for a while at a local club, but I realized I wasn't a good player. Refereeing caught my attention, and I pleaded with my coach to make me a referee during training; that’s when I realized that refereeing was in my blood." He continued: "My passion for refereeing peaked when I watched the 1998 World Cup in France. Everyone was watching the stars, but I focused on the referees. I contacted the South African federation afterward to see how I could start my career. I had some matches as an assistant referee and started as a center referee after numerous training courses." Gomes received his international badge at the age of 28 in 2011.
**A Family Man**
The South African referee confirmed that reaching his current position was due to his family and the people around him. In his interview with the CAF website, he stated: "My journey has been exciting, and I am happy with what I have achieved. I am grateful to the people who have always supported me in my life." He acknowledged that balancing his personal life with his professional one has not been easy; in addition to officiating matches, Gomes owns a water treatment plant and a plastic manufacturing company. He said: "I am fortunate to have colleagues who encourage me throughout my refereeing career, and in work, I have a loyal partner who eases the workload." He added: "My wife is my source of strength and the best critic. She watches all my matches and points out my mistakes; she is always supportive of me."
**The Importance of Maintaining Reputation**
Gomes emphasized that his reputation means everything to him, stating repeatedly that it will follow him for life. He was quoted by the South African site "IOL" saying: "Being a referee will prevent you from forming many friendships." He added: "Refereeing is not just about your decisions on the field but also about your behavior off it. I must be a role model and do everything ethically; it is essential to have honesty and integrity, as it is something that will haunt me and my family."
**Refusal of $30,000 Bribe**
Gomes turned down a bribe of nearly $30,000 while in Nigeria to officiate a match in the African Confederation Cup between Plateau United of Nigeria and CR Belouizdad of Algeria. South African Football Association referees committee chairman Tenda Masikowa expressed his pride in how the referees from his country handled the incident. He said: "Our referees acted very well; as soon as the problem arose, they reported it immediately to the continental federation for further investigation into the matter." He added: "Our referees showed the continent and the whole world that they will not tolerate corruption; we are proud of them."
