Kaizer Chiefs slam referee decisions in heated Arrows clash

Kaizer Chiefs slam referee decisions in heated Golden Arrows clash.

Chiefs assistant coach Khalil Ben Youssef did not hold back in criticizing the referee after their 1-0 loss to Arrows on Sunday. The match, held at Moses Mabhida Stadium, left Amakhosi fuming over what they described as questionable officiating.

The frustration boiled over when head coach Nasreddine Nabi received a red card in the tunnel for confronting the match officials about their decisions.

Time-wasting tactics spark outrage

Golden Arrows’ approach to managing the game infuriated the Chiefs’ technical team. According to Ben Youssef, Arrows deliberately slowed the pace with excessive substitutions and frequent simulation of fouls.

“Normally, what we know in football, if you make a substitution, it is 30 seconds. So, I give you a question: how many substitutions did we make in the second half? You don’t know,” Ben Youssef stated, highlighting their frustration.

He elaborated on the numbers: Golden Arrows made five substitutions, while Chiefs made three. Despite this, the referee added only three minutes of stoppage time, which Ben Youssef deemed insufficient given the numerous interruptions.

Chiefs question referee’s neutrality

The Chiefs’ staff felt the referee failed to curb Arrows’ time-wasting or penalize their players appropriately. “You give them time to win the time. You don’t give a yellow card. Like, we feel like he tried to help the opponent team,” Ben Youssef asserted.

This perceived leniency from the referee led Nabi to confront him post-match, resulting in his dismissal. Ben Youssef clarified that Nabi’s protests stemmed from genuine concerns over the referee’s management of the game.

Call for consistency

Ben Youssef also pointed out an inconsistency in officiating across their recent games. “We played now 12 games. Always five minutes and more than five minutes for extra time. If you give three minutes and then you allow for them, when they try to play, you allow for them,” he said.

Despite their frustrations, Ben Youssef stopped short of accusing the referee of bias outright. “I know it’s a good situation for us. But I don’t want to talk about it,” he concluded, leaving the lingering question of fairness on the table.

Kaizer Chiefs now face the challenge of regrouping after this controversial defeat. With their head coach suspended and mounting frustrations within the squad, they must find a way to channel their energy into upcoming fixtures.

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