Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso believes the introduction of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology, will be a plus to South African football.
On Wednesday, Masandawana were held to a 1-1 draw with Golden Arrows in the Premier Soccer League assignment that was staged in Mpumalanga. The defending champions reacted furiously as Peter Shalulile's seemingly legit goal was ruled out for offside.
Situations like those explain why there have been massive calls for VAR introduction in the country to help significantly reduce the officials' mistakes.
Ahead of the Nedbank Cup quarter-final game against Sekhukhune United on Saturday at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium, Cardoso has explained how VAR might shape up the country's football.
‘There must be a clear vision of development‘
“As you know, I don't really like to personalize whatever has to do with referees. I will never do it because I think in the end the coach has more to lose than to win when he personalizes the question. You are the ones who should speak for your football. You are the ones who should defend your football,” he said regarding the disallowed goal by Shalulile.
“It's up to you to highlight what's good or bad that is being done. The level of the coaches is increased, the level of players is increased and also the level of referees should be increased, not only in South Africa but everywhere in the world.
“It's very important that VAR could be put on in South Africa. It would help the referees because referees are also human beings and when they make a mistake it's normal that it can happen. When it's too many mistakes in one match, obviously it's not comfortable. What is important is to defend football. There must be a clear vision of development.
“For example, in Portugal, there is always a meeting before the match between the referees and the two parties where they discuss the organisation of a match. When I was an assistant coach, I used to attend all those meetings. And there, there was talk about how people should relate, even the relation between the referees and the coaches who are on the bench,” Cardoso concluded.
