Cardoso Makes Referee Plea: ‘We Are Not A Bad Team’
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Soccer Laduma (@soccer_laduma)
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has made a plea to referees. Image: Gallo Images
Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso believes his players are being unfairly targeted by match officials, providing a report pointing to a stark disparity in the amount of bookings between his side and other clubs in the Betway Premiership.
Cardoso raised concern over how referees have easily handed out yellow cards to his players and made a plea to officials to correct this, especially because of the impact bookings can have later in the season, when the battle for the title intensifies.
Speaking to the media following their victory over AmaZulu on Wednesday, the Brazilians’ mentor openly expressed his frustrastions.
“I am just not happy seeing my players receive so many yellow cards. I think it’s important that we understand that we already have in six matches 15 yellow cards,” he revealed.
“A team like Sundowns that dominates matches after matches. You go see the stats to see how much ball possession we have and we finish with four yellow cards and AmaZulu with one. We played with Golden Arrows and finish with three and Golden Arrows with one. We played Marumo, and got one yellow card and Marumo zero. Chiefs was four-four. Polokwane it was two-two, but Polokwane should have had not one but three yellow cards,” Cardoso told media after their 5-2 victory over AmaZulu at Loftus Stadium.
“Just for you to understand, last year we had 53 yellow cards and Pirates had 28. We had four red cards and Pirates had zero. The yellow cards put players out as we go through the championship and those matches in the front will speak for this championship.
The Sundowns mentor made a direct appeal to match officials to reconsider how they approach disciplinary decisions involving his players.
“It’s important that we have, and I speak for the referees please, pay attention on the way we are so easily coming to target my players. Because it’s too easy to target my players. When I receive my yellow card, that’s what I go to the referee for. We are a team that plays 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 inside the pitch. It’s time to understand. Let’s hope this situation can be corrected because the yellow cards will take players out in the front.”
Sundowns will be back in action this weekend when they take on Golden Arrows in the MTN8 second leg semi-final in KZN.
Sep 01, 2026 05:00 PM
in Bafana
Aug 31, 2026 10:35 AM
in saudi-pro-league
Aug 30, 2026 10:57 AM
in Players Abroad
Aug 31, 2026 10:06 PM
in Motsepe-Foundation-Championship
Sep 01, 2026 12:11 PM
in African Football
May 06, 2026 12:45 PM
in Kaizer-Chiefs
May 06, 2026 12:31 PM
in SA-Players-Abroad
May 06, 2026 11:51 AM
in Mamelodi-Sundowns
May 06, 2026 10:26 AM
in African Football
May 06, 2026 01:05 PM
in Fan Park