Mngqithi Blasts PSL And SAFA Over Lack Of VAR After Controversial Chiefs Defeat

Golden Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi has criticised the PSL and SAFA for failing to introduce VAR, saying the league will continue to be hampered by costly mistakes because referees are not equipped to deal with the modern game.

Mngqithi said that while coaches are working tirelessly to build their teams, the PSL and SAFA, who look after the referees, must step in to assist officials by allowing them to review incidents through VAR.

Arrows suffered a 1–0 defeat to Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium on Tuesday night in a match that lacked quality. However, the result was overshadowed by a controversial moment.

Chiefs scored the decisive goal in the 39th minute when Lebohang Maboe’s free kick was headed by Flavio da Silva. The ball fell on the goal line and, with Arrows unable to clear, Aden McCarthy pounced to finish and open his PSL account.

However, it was clear that McCarthy was in an offside position. Unfortunately, with no VAR in place to review the incident, the goal was allowed to stand.

“The first thing I can tell you is that the PSL will forever have issues as long as this issue of VAR is not taken care of,” Mngqithi told SuperSport TV after the match.

“The stakes are very high. We work very hard to build our teams. If you look closely at that goal, once the ball is touched by Flavio da Silva, Aden McCarthy is already on the other side and is offside.

“You lose the game and nobody cares. When you concede goals, people say you don’t defend well.

“But the reality is that the league must work very hard on this issue. The game has become too dynamic — not because of us.

“It has become too difficult, even for officials, to track and judge the runs of players, and I cannot always blame the referees.

“The game demands that we respond to how dynamic it has become. We are not playing for R500,000 here; we are playing for R20 million in rights. So, we should seriously be considering VAR. Otherwise, we will keep losing matches like this, and people will be okay with it.”