SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt has spoken out about an ugly incident that left him considering retirement. The incident took place during a clash against Al Hilal Benghazi in the CAF Confederation Cup group stages.
It took place at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday and was marred by controversy from the beginning until the end with three red cards. Match referee Patrice Mebiame from Gabon was out of his depth on the day and failed to control the game.
The first incident came when Mebiame showed SuperSport goalkeeper Washington Arubi a yellow card for handling the ball outside the 18-area box. But as the visitors were setting up to take a free kick, the referee changed his mind and issued a red for the Zimbabwean international much to the dismay of everyone.
WASHINGTON ARUBI RED CARD JUSTIFIED?
“Well, I thought it was a red card straight away but he gave him a yellow card. Then four or five minutes later he gave him a red card. I don’t know for what, but he changed,” said Hunt on the incident.
“There is no VAR, but it was a red card. But give him a red card then we know but don’t give him a yellow card, then set up the wall. Put the spray down, push everybody back then talk to the players and then give him a red card.
“I don’t know if he has his own VAR or something. But this game could have ended up with four players each. It could have been four or five aside,” he said.
UGLY SCENES AT PETER MOKABA STADIUM SPOIL CAF CONFEDERATION CUP CLASH
The tensions between the two sides were so high that Benghazi also received a red card early in the second half with Ahmed Mohamed the culprit.
But the talking point came with just 10 minutes remaining. The SuperSport United bench reacted to what they said was provocation from a Benghazi player which resulted in a physical fight between the two camps. Play had to be stopped for seven minutes while the match officials and security tried to separate the players and the officials. SuperSport’s assistant coach Grant Johnson was also shown a red card for his reaction during the incident.
“I can’t put my finger on that [incident] because there was so much commotion going on,” said Hunt.
“I mean they were lucky it didn’t end up worse than it was. Sorry to say it, I think it could have ended up worse but it didn’t. So we are lucky. But it came from someone trying to get somebody sent off. So it’s not right, just in front of us, so a lot of people reacted, but it’s just sad where the game is.”
WHY GAVIN HUNT WAS CONSIDERING RETIRING FROM FOOTBALL
“We have won the game, I should be happy but I am so disappointed. Actually, to a point where I said I just want to rather retire and get out of the game, you know what I mean. I can’t carry on like this, you can’t play football like this, that’s not right.
“As I said to the players in the dressing room now, the younger players, we are learning how not to do things but they are fine. But it’s very sad where the game is,” he said.
Hunt has also described the antics of Benghazi as sad and derailing the development of African football.
“I don’t know where football is going but certainly not going in the right direction. That’s why Africa will always be behind. You can never go forward with football because when you get things happening like that it’s very sad. But that’s the state of the game and as I said it was worse last week. It was worse there.
“I don’t want to go more into this but it’s more of the opposition than the officiating you saw. Certainly wasn’t very good but the opposition the way they play the game. Did you see what happened? It’s not right but hey if you want to play like that we won’t play like that, that’s for sure. But it is what it is.”
United are left with two games in the competition and the six points could see them progress to the knockout stage.
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