Cardoso fumes over disallowed goal, renews call for VAR

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has once again raised concerns about the absence of VAR after his side were denied what appeared to be a legitimate goal in their 2-1 victory over Golden Arrows at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Wednesday night.

Nuno Santos thought he had extended Sundowns’ advantage with a powerful strike from 25 yards, only for the effort to be ruled out after Iqraam Rayners was judged to have been in an offside position and interfering with play, despite not touching the ball.

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However, television replays suggested Rayners was onside when Santos took the shot and the goal should have stood. Had it counted, the Brazilians would have moved into a commanding 3-0 lead in what eventually proved to be a tight Betway Premiership encounter.

Cardoso – ‘There are too many (wrong decisions)’

Moments after the controversial decision, where referee Siyabulela Qunta overruled his assistant, who had kept the flag down, Junior Dion pulled a goal back from the penalty spot to make it 2-1 and set up a nervy finale. Cardoso did not hide his frustration afterwards, suggesting the recurring officiating issues were becoming a pattern.

“I’m not addressing the referees, I’m addressing the situation where there are too many (wrong decisions) and we have been feeling that it is systematic,” he said after the match.

“Obviously, referees have emotions and they make mistakes but this is a movement that should be addressed collectively by coaches, the players and the referees. I’m not judging their intentions but I’m judging the situations that have happened which in the end came against us.

“That’s what I’m putting on the table and I think the referee today would have been happy if he had VAR. It would have helped him in the decision of the third goal that we scored and he will see when he gets home that he gave (Arrows) a penalty that came from an offside position.”

The Portuguese coach also referenced last season’s painful Nedbank Cup semi-final defeat to Kaizer Chiefs at the same venue as another example of contentious officiating. On that occasion, Ashley du Preez scored from what Sundowns believed was an offside position as Amakhosi progressed to the final, where they later defeated Orlando Pirates to lift the trophy.

‘VAR … should be a reality as quickly as possible’

“Last year at this stadium in the semifinal of the cup match. We had a one metre offside that was not given against Kaizer Chiefs,” an irate Cardoso added.

“It would have allowed us to still fight until the end of the match and go to the final of the Nedbank Cup so it’s too many mistakes and VAR in South Africa should be a reality as quick as possible. The quicker it starts, the better.”

As the title race intensifies, Sundowns are level on 44 points with log leaders Orlando Pirates, with 11 matches still to play, raising the prospect of the championship being decided on goal difference.

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Masandawana’s attention now shifts to continental duty, as they return to action next Friday with a home clash against Stade Malien in the first leg of their CAF Champions League quarterfinal at Loftus.