Cardoso Claims Sundowns Players Are Unfairly Targeted

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has expressed his frustration with the standard of refereeing in South African football, claiming referees make it too easy for his players to receive yellow cards.

Cardoso’s comments came after Sundowns thrashed AmaZulu 5-2 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in the Betway Premiership on Wednesday evening, with four Sundowns players receiving yellow cards.

The victory moved Sundowns to the top of the log on 10 points from four matches.

Cardoso believes his players are being unfairly targeted by referees and fears the number of bookings could cost the team key players as the season progresses.

“So, I’m pretty happy. I’m just not very happy about seeing my players receive so many yellow cards,” said Cardoso.

“I think it’s important that we understand that we have already, in one, two, three, four, five, six matches, 15 yellow cards. A team like Sundowns that dominates match after match—you go and look at the stats, and you see how much ball possession we have, and we finish with four yellow cards. AmaZulu with one.”

He continued: “We played Golden Arrows. We finished with three, Golden Arrows one. We played Marumo Gallants: one yellow card for us, zero for Marumo. Chiefs was 4-4, Polokwane 2-2, but Polokwane should have had three yellow cards, not one.

“And just for you to understand, last year we had 53 yellow cards. Pirates had 28. We had four red cards. Pirates had zero red cards. The yellow cards put players out as we go through the championship.

“And those matches in front will speak for this championship. We must have—and I speak for the referees—please pay attention to the way we are so easily coming to target my players because it’s too easy to target my players.

“When I received my yellow card, that’s what I told the referee: ‘Please, it’s too easy to target my players. It’s not like that.’”

Cardoso insisted Sundowns’ style of play should not result in their players being punished more frequently than their opponents.

“It’s not like that. We are a team that plays football, positive football, with respect. Just understand the role and the way we play the game and how we respect football. We are not a bad team or bullies on the pitch. We are a team that wants to play the game.

“And it’s time to understand that, like the situation with the goal Brayan León scored. In a moment, we finish the game, we make it 5-2, and the game is finished. That goal is allowed because the referee is not on the line, the sideline. He’s three metres behind. Of course, he cannot make the decision.

“So, let’s hope indeed this situation can be corrected because the yellow cards will take players out in the future, and we want our players to be able to play as much as the players from the teams that we fight against. The rules are the same for everybody.”