With each and match day passing, fans know that there will be some serious discussions after the game where the officiating will be put on a spotlight, it has turned into a norm in South African football that week in and week out, Referees will be on the spotlight after making some poor decisions that let to one team losing a game which results could have been different if some decisions were taken or not taken, the Nedbank Cup Semi-Final game between Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs also had a controversial goal that left many talking and proved how rotten football is in this country.
Even though Amakhosi fans do not really care since this is not the first time such happens between these two teams, they are celebrating saying the tables have turned and they have benefited, but the truth has to be told about the Kaizer Chiefs’ so-called “victory” over Mamelodi Sundowns, secured by an offside goal that the linesman somehow didn’t see, is more than just a controversial result—it’s a symptom of a deeply broken system.
After Sundowns took the lead just before half-time, it looked as if it was all over for Chiefs, but Wandile Duba pounced on a mistake by Suarez and scored an equalizer, then Ashley Du Preez was brought in and went on to score the controversial winning goal with two minutes remaining on the clock, but let's be honest: the goal should never have stood. Replays were clear. Ashley Du Preez was offside, yet the flag stayed down, and the referee allowed it. That goal turned the entire match on its head, gifting Chiefs three points they didn’t earn. Sundowns, who had dominated large parts of the game, were robbed in plain sight.
Putting emotions and subjectivity aside and putting football first, as fans, we need to be honest and tell the truth as it is disregarding which team you support, this isn’t just about Chiefs vs. Sundowns, It’s about a league where officiating errors have become the norm, not the exception. It's about a system where accountability is non-existent, and certain teams seem to benefit more than others—time and time again.
The game is rotting to the core to an extent that for as long the Video Assistant Referee System is not there, suh things will continue each and every day. Where is the outrage from the PSL or SAFA? Where is the transparency? In 2025, we still don’t have VAR. We still rely on referees who consistently get major decisions wrong, and nothing ever changes. Fans are expected to accept it, week after week, as though this circus is normal.
As football lover and supporters of different teams, deserves better. We need reform from the top down—better officiating, independent oversight, and actual consequences for mistakes that affect league outcomes. Until then, expect more rigged-looking results, more outrage, and more disillusioned fans walking away from the game they love, honestly, right now, it’s hard to love South African football when it feels like it’s actively working against fairness, progress, and the truth.
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