Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi has criticized referee Eugene Mdluli for his handling of Sunday’s Betway Premiership match against Polokwane City at Peter Mokaba Stadium, which Chiefs lost 2-0.

Nabi emphasized that his criticism wasn’t solely due to the loss, but also because of the serious injury sustained by left-back Bradley Cross, which he believes was avoidable. He expressed concern that the referee failed to address the incident appropriately.

A win for Chiefs would have elevated them to fourth place in the league table, but the defeat has dropped them to ninth with 11 points from eight matches. Polokwane City capitalized on Chiefs’ misfortune, securing a 2-0 victory through goals from Oswin Appollis and Mokibelo Ramabu, propelling them to third place.

“You remember my player Edson Castillo is out for six months? I spoke to the referee and all the people in the media and I’m told I’m aggressive with referees, I’m not aggressive, I respect the referees because without the referees we don’t have football,” said Nabi. 

“I stopped talking about referees, but today (it was not good). I speak about the image of the PSL and we had two penalties and I think Bradley Cross is out, this is unacceptable. 

“If I lose, I lose and it’s not that I’m bad or not but I don’t like to lose like that, I don’t like to lose due to referees. Look at the action with Cross, and look at the action when you go home and he might be two months out because of the injury.  

“It is unacceptable. I respect the opponents, I respect the referees, but give me respect and what I deserve. FIFA’s first point for referees is to protect the referees. 

“How many of my players are in hospital? This is unacceptable. I talk to protect myself because I lost. Because the solution is clear for me. But I’m not happy because we lost, because the fans came to support us, I’m not happy for them because we lost three points.”  

Despite the disappointing start to the season, with three wins, three losses, and two draws, Nabi remains optimistic about the team’s direction. “But anyone who knows football and understands football, observe Kaizer Chiefs is heading in the right direction,” he said.  

Chiefs’ next fixture is against TS Galaxy at Mbombela Stadium on Monday, Reconciliation Day.