In the absence of VAR, let’s hear from PSL referees

In the absence of VAR in the PSL, could referees at least be mic’d up so that we can hear why they make certain decisions? Perhaps that would give supporters, coaches and players a clearer understanding of what officials see or how they interpret key moments on the pitch.

Dubious calls need VAR

I think we can all agree that poor decision-making has affected every team in the PSL this season. Whether in the Betway Premiership or the Motsepe Foundation Championship, coaches and players continue to bear the brunt of some dubious calls from match officials.

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This is not confined to one or two clubs, every team feels aggrieved at some point. Mistakes are inevitable in football and referees are human and the game moves quickly, but what frustrates many people is not just errors, it is the lack of accountability that follows them.

Coaches face the consequences when results go wrong and players are criticised. In extreme cases, managers lose their jobs and clubs are relegated. Meanwhile, referees move on to the next fixture with little explanation offered to the public.

Absence of transparency

That absence of transparency fuels the suspicion that certain teams benefit more than others, even if that perception might not necessarily be true. A good example came on Wednesday night at Loftus Versfeld when Mamelodi Sundowns hosted Golden Arrows.

Nuno Santos appeared to have given Sundowns breathing space when he unleashed a superb strike from about 25 yards. The ball hit the back of the net and celebrations briefly followed before referee Siyabulela Qunta disallowed the goal after ruling that Iqraam Rayners had been in an offside position. 

Television replays suggested otherwise, raising immediate questions about the decision. What made the moment even more curious was that the assistant referee had not raised his flag and Qunta overruled him. When a match official overrules the judgement of an assistant who might have had the better angle, it is reasonable to expect some clarity.

That is where a system of open communication, even something as simple as referees explaining their decisions after matches could make a difference. Given how tight the title race is shaping up to be, goal difference could ultimately decide the championship.

An urgent necessity

That is precisely why the implementation of VAR has become an urgent necessity in South African football. Some decisions are simply too significant to be left without the benefit of technological assistance.

What I find hard to accept is the insinuation that one team is systematically targeted or favoured. Should the legitimacy of the eventual league champions be questioned at the end of the season? I do not believe so. If we follow that line of thinking, we would have to place an asterisk next to countless league titles and cup competitions decided amid questionable officiating.

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At the very least, the powers that be must ensure greater transparency for the remainder of the season. The absence of VAR should not mean that referees operate above scrutiny. Certain decisions must be explained if the integrity of South African refereeing is to be protected.

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