Mamelodi Sundowns secured a narrow 2-1 victory against Kaizer Chiefs in a highly anticipated Betway Premiership clash at a packed FNB Stadium on Saturday. However, the result has ignited heated debates about the officiating, with growing calls for the introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology in South African football.
The match saw an early goal for Chiefs, followed by a controversial winner for Sundowns that left Chiefs fans and players feeling robbed. Despite the thrilling contest, the officiating blunder that led to Sundowns' decisive second goal has become the focal point of discussion. Kaizer Chiefs started the match in impressive fashion, catching Sundowns off guard. In the 10th minute, Ranga Chivaviro broke the deadlock, holding off Mosa Lebusa and finishing past Sundowns' star goalkeeper, Ronwen Williams, following a precise through pass from Reeve Frosler. Chiefs nearly doubled their lead six minutes later when Chivaviro created another chance, but Wandile Duba failed to convert a dangerous cross, letting a golden opportunity slip away.
Despite the early setback, Sundowns fought their way back into the game. In the 30th minute, Brazilian midfielder Lucas Ribeiro Costa equalized for the visitors with a well-placed shot across Chiefs' goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari’s goal, assisted by Tashreeq Matthews. Just six minutes later, Sundowns took the lead through Iqraam Rayners, who slotted home from a square pass by Ribeiro. However, replays showed that Ribeiro was clearly offside during the build-up, sparking outrage from Chiefs fans and players alike.
The absence of VAR technology to review such crucial decisions has led to widespread frustration, with many feeling that Chiefs were unfairly denied a legitimate chance to compete. Fans took to social media, calling for the implementation of VAR in the South African league to prevent similar mistakes from influencing future matches. While the officiating was under scrutiny, Sundowns can thank their goalkeeper, Ronwen Williams, for the victory. The Bafana Bafana captain, who has been nominated for the prestigious Yashin Trophy at the Ballon d'Or awards, delivered a standout performance, making several crucial saves that kept Chiefs from equalizing.
In the second half, Chiefs pressed for an equalizer, and Williams was called into action multiple times. His most notable save came when he acrobatically denied Edson Castillo’s close-range header. Later, substitute Ashley du Preez also had a chance to bring Chiefs level, but Williams made another brilliant stop to maintain his team’s lead.
Chiefs had one final opportunity in stoppage time when they thought they had scored a dramatic equalizer. However, the goal was disallowed after Ignacio Miguel was adjudged to have fouled Lebusa in the box. Chiefs' frustrations grew as Sundowns held on for the win, with the controversial second goal remaining a bitter talking point.
The controversy surrounding Sundowns' second goal has amplified calls for the introduction of VAR in the Premier Soccer League (PSL). Fans, analysts, and players have voiced their concerns, arguing that such technological advancements are essential to ensure fairness and accuracy in officiating. While VAR is widely used in top European leagues, its absence in South Africa continues to leave room for errors that could be easily avoided. Elsewhere in the league, Sekhukhune United earned a 2-0 victory against Golden Arrows at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane. Defender Tresor Yamba opened the scoring in the sixth minute, and Mcedi Vandala doubled the lead early in the second half. The win lifted Sekhukhune’s spirits, while Golden Arrows suffered their second consecutive defeat after a promising start to the season.