Miguel Cardoso and Manqoba Mngqithi echoed the same sentiment regarding the implementation of the Video Assistant Referee [VAR] following Mamelodi Sundowns’ 2-1 victory over Golden Arrows in the Betway Premiership.
The Brazilians continued their impressive run of form after collecting maximum points against Arrows at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Tuesday, with goals from Teboho Mokoena and Iqraam Rayners, while Junior Dion scored for the visiting side.
Sundowns extended their unbeaten run in the league after claiming six successive wins in the second round of the 2025/2026 season. The Tshwane have won all their league matches in 2026, signaling a strong intent to defend the Premiership title and win it for the ninth consecutive time.
Despite securing a win against Abafana Bes’thende, Downs remained in the second spot on the log standings with 44 points in 19 games. They are behind Orlando Pirates, who also collected three points against Polokwane City FC on Tuesday at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium to maintain their lead at the top with 44 points and superior goal difference.
In a match between Arrows and Sundowns, referee Siyabulela Qunta was called into action with a handful of questionable decisions that left Masandawana coach Miguel Cardoso and Arrows mentor Manqoba Mngqithi agreeing that the VAR should be treated with the sense of urgency it deserves.
In a match between Arrows and Sundowns, the referee took a spotlight after Rayners scored a goal that was ruled offside, although television replays showed that he was onside. Another controversy arose when Khuliso Mudau was judged to have fouled Junior Dion in the box, resulting in a penalty that helped Arrows to score a consolation goal.
WHAT CARDOSO SAID ABOUT VAR
The growing concerns about officiating come shortly after the SA Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, revealed that the funding for the VAR has been provided to SAFA to roll out the system next season.
“I’m not speaking about the referees, about speaking about the situations, I’m addressing the situations that are too many, and we have been feeling that systematically,” Cardoso said.
“Obviously, referees have emotions, they make mistakes, and it touches their emotions. This is a movement that should be addressed collectively by different agents. From the coaches, to the players, and referees, because I’m not judging intentions, I’m judging the situations, in the end, they all came against us.
“I think the referee of our match would have been very happy to have VAR, that would help him in the decision with the first goal, and he would be happy because we would arrive home and see that the penalty he gave, there was an offside before. I would like to remember that last year, from that side of the pitch, we had a one-meter offside against Kaizer Chiefs, which was not given. It would have allowed us to fight until the end and go to the final of the Nedbank Cup. I think the VAR in South Africa should be a reality as quickly as possible, it can also help to regulate on which pitches we play matches.”
MNGQITHI SAYS NEXT SEASON IS TOO FAR FOR VAR IMPLEMENTATION
Mngqithi also voiced his concerns with officiating, stating that the game has gotten too fast for the referees to track the events of matches in real time.
“Next season is too far [to introduce the VAR], I keep saying this thing is becoming too dynamic for the referees. Today [Tuesday] I even saw the sniff of a VAR because I think that if there is an offside, the linesman raises his flag, and I didn’t see the flag, but I saw the negotiations [between match officials], and there’s no offside,” Mngqithi said.
“I’m not saying it was offside or not offside, but I expect the right things to happen in a football match. Every week, we’ll be talking about this topic, but we are running one of the big leagues in Africa, and we should understand that the investment that has been put in by the clubs in training should be worth accepting the results.
“So i’ve moved away from blaming the referees because i’ve realised that the are human beings and most of the time, the complaints we have as coaches and club administrators are based on the second opinion that we have from stands or somewhere else because I look at the iPad and see that this was offside then I’m able to make noise but the reality is when happens first sometimes we don’t see it.”
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