Cardoso feels PSL referees are targeting Sundowns players

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso feels his players are targeted by PSL referees, and that it could prove costly for them.

Speaking to the media after his team’s 5-2 win over AmaZulu, Cardoso counted the number yellow cards received by his players last season and so far this term.

To date, Sundowns have had 15 yellow cards awarded to their players, and Cardoso believes this could affect the team’s chances of competing for league honours.

He further made reference to last season when Sundowns received 53 yellow cards compared to the 28 received by eventual winners Orlando Pirates.

The 54-year-old pleaded with the referees to pay attention to how they easily target Sundowns players.

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CARDOSO BELIEVES SUNDOWNS PLAYERS ARE TARGETED BY PSL REFEREES

“I’m pretty happy, I’m just not happy with seeing my players receive so many yellow cards. I think it’s important that we understand that we have already in five matches, 15 yellow cards,” said Cardoso.

“A team like Sundowns that dominates match after match you’ll go and see the stats, and you’ll see how much ball possession we have. We finished with four yellow cards, AmaZulu with one. 

“We played Golden Arrows, we finished with three, Golden Arrows with one. We played Marumo Gallants, we finished with one yellow card, Marumo with zero. Chiefs was 4, 4 (yellow cards), Polokwane 2, 2 but Polokwane shouldn’t have had one but three yellow cards. 

“Just for you to understand, last year we had 53 yellow cards, Pirates had 28. We had four red cards, Pirates had zero red cards. The yellow cards put players out as we go through the championship [race], and those matches in the front will define this championship [race]. To the referees, please pay attention to the way you are so easily coming to target my players because it’s too easy to target my players.”

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