Verdicts Affecting Results: PSL referees have been given carte blanche for too long

The world did not need Albert Einstein – or so the dubious claim goes – to tell us that “doing the same thing and expecting a different result” is foolhardy.

And yet, here we are for another Betway Premiership season, and we are again crying foul about refereeing decisions in South Africa’s top football league. It does seem rather pointless. But I also have the belief that keeping quiet would be a crime. 

Referees simply cannot deliver poor results on a weekly basis and escape without any consequences. There is simply too much at stake. It’s not only coaches and players’ futures that are on the line, but often the livelihood of everyone involved at the club.

It is a matter that our bombastic Minister of Sports and Culture Gayton McKenzie took a personal interest in last season. 

“I’m not a minister of empty promises” was McKenzie’s pledge as he double-downed on bringing VAR (Video Assistant Referee) technology to the PSL.

With the cost to implement VAR the primary obstacle, McKenzie blurted out bold statements. 

“The R90 million is there, we went to Spain with the help of SuperSport again, we tested VAR. It works 100%,” McKenzie stated. 

“So people, stop asking me where VAR is. I have done what I promised to do. There's nothing more I can do. The money is the most important (thing).

"SuperSport assisted us, so next season there will be VAR. Let's give Safa a chance to finalise. There will be VAR in our soccer in South Africa.”

Needless to say, there remains no VAR in South African soccer in the 2025/26 season, which once again has had a major impact on the local game. Just last weekend there were decisions that impacted the result of two important matches. 

Golden Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi was livid about a penalty being awarded against his team when they faced Kaizer Chiefs at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. 

Mngqithi, who has previously coached perennial league champions Mamelodi Sundowns, felt that the greater injustice was that the controversial decisions went against the so-called smaller clubs.

“You can say whatever you want to say but without VAR, we are exposed because decisions are taken and we move on. It’s Golden Arrows anyway. Nobody talks, but if it’s somebody else, maybe something happens,” Mngqithi said.

“But the honest truth, the referees have been given this carte blanche way of doing what they want. Even if the decision is atrocious, it’s okay. 

“It just depends who was beaten on the day, if it’s somebody who is bigger than the other in animal farm, it would be an issue. If it happens against a team like [Arrows] it’s okay tomorrow is another day, life must go on.”

Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker was more diplomatic after his team were on the receiving end of a penalty against Sundowns at the Athlone Stadium, despite television replays showing that Downs striker Peter Peter Shalulile was brought down outside the box on the stroke of halftime.

Mngqithi, though, was not holding back and spoke up on behalf of his fellow coach. 

"Another dubious penalty, to be honest, let’s not lie here. It’s another dubious penalty because I don’t think that penalty was inside the box,” the veteran coach said. 

While VAR is not without its own faults, as we have seen on numerous occasions in the English Premier League, there is at least accountability, in the manner EPL refereeing chief Howard Webb admitted this week that it was “wrong” and a “misjudgement” to disallow a goal scored by Fulham during the Cottagers 2–0 defeat to Chelsea after the usage of technology.

South African football needs someone to put their hands up. Foul play has been going on for too long.