Cardoso questions refereeing after Sundowns beat Durban City 4-1

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has spoken about the standard of match officiating in the Betway Premiership after his team beat Durban City 4-1 in Rustenburg on Saturday, according to iDiski Times.

Sundowns back on top

The win lifted Sundowns to the top of the log with 26 points from 10 matches. They are one point clear of second-placed Orlando Pirates, who beat Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 in the Soweto derby earlier on Saturday. Pirates have played one game fewer than Sundowns.

iDiski Times reported that questionable decisions by the match officials were seen in both games.

What Cardoso said

Speaking at the post-match press conference, which was carried on PrimeSportsWithMahlatseTV, Cardoso admitted he had not watched the afternoon match. He said he had only seen the incidents from it, and that he believed everybody else had seen them too.

He asked people to look at what happened on Saturday, and he referred to “penalties that we had that were not conceded”. In his view, the mistakes seem to fall in favour of the same side each time. He put that down to bad luck, saying: “It’s just a matter of bad luck for sure.”

Cardoso did not turn his comments into an excuse. He said his team has to concentrate on what it can control, which is its own performance. He added that Sundowns try to avoid problems with referees, and that the squad tries not to speak with them.

“We have to make our job, think about football, play best as we can,” he said, describing this as the attitude the team must have.

What it means for the title race

With the gap at the top so small and Pirates still holding a game in hand, every point is likely to count in the weeks ahead. Cardoso’s comments show that officiating decisions are already part of the conversation around the leading sides this season. The source does not say whether the league has responded to his remarks.

Fans who want to follow the race can keep an eye on the next round of fixtures, when Pirates will have a chance to make up their game in hand.

This story is based on reporting by iDiski Times.