Former Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs winger Keagan Dolly has weighed in on the refereeing situation in the PSL and feels match officials are walking away unpunished for wrong calls.
Referees have hogged the limelight for incorrect decisions in recent seasons, leading to louder calls for the introduction of VAR. One of the figures leading the push for VAR introduction is sports minister Gayton McKenzie, who claims they have provided SAFA with funds for the implementation of the refereeing technology.
Betway Premiership coaches like Manqoba Mngqithi and Miguel Cardoso have been vocal about the adoption of VAR use, while AmaZulu FC’s Arthur Zwane has also supported the idea.
African leagues in Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia and Mauritania have been using VAR, while there have been trials in Ivory Coast. Akhona Makhahalima, Zakhele Siwela and Abongile Tom are some of the South African match officials trained for VAR.
Retired referee Victor Gomes has become a FIFA instructor in the use of refereeing technology. Having a number of officials well-versed in VAR could help in its smooth introduction to domestic football.
Dolly is concerned about the number of mistakes being made and says the referees are going unpunished, suggesting the league is lenient on match officials.
DOLLY’S CALL FOR ACCOUNTABILITY IN PSL REFEREEING
“Are there consequences for them [referees]? They get suspended for two or three games, and they are back. Are there steps for them to sit with the people who did it before them?” Dolly said on Mamelodi Sundowns’ Pitchside Podcast.
“How do you discuss it to get better? Corrections as well, like we do [as players]. We analyse our games. Do they do the same?
“Do they take accountability for their mistakes because some are really match-deciding mistakes. A team needs points; you don’t give them a call, and they lose the game 1-0.
“So, there have to be steps for the officials to take accountability, try to rectify mistakes and also grow.”
Dolly is currently on the books of Cape Town City FC in the Motsepe Foundation Championship. This is a league where poor officiating is rife, leaving coaches to lament the standard of refereeing week in and week out.
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