In this weekend's match that ended in a 1-1 draw against AmaZulu, Kaizer Chiefs' interim coach, Cavin Johnson, raised concerns over what he described as unusual officiating, particularly highlighting issues with communication among the match officials.
The game, which saw the Soweto giants secure a spot in the top eight of the league standings, was marred by controversy, according to Johnson.
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The coach had pointed out a specific incident where AmaZulu's Victor Letsoalo scored an equalizer, which Johnson firmly believes should have been ruled as offside.
"When you play and get an offside goal against you which I thought was clear, and during the first half as well, the referees lose their communication," Johnson told the media in a press conference.
The Chiefs coach had also made the point that his team was denied a clear penalty and that AmaZulu's Abbubaker Mobara should have received a red card for a foul, which would have significantly altered the course of the game, from Johnson's perspective.
"I thought it was very strange how you lose your communication 15 minutes into the game because that affects the decisions that you make sometimes because you got no communication with your teammates or from those on the side," Johnson said.
Johnson remarked, highlighting the communication breakdown among officials as a critical issue. He further elaborated on the challenges faced due to the lack of communication, stating, "But in saying that, the offside goal as well, the fourth official said he can't do anything because our mics aren't working.
"But coming to the second half, I think we had a penalty shout which is very, very open and obviously the second yellow, red-card for Mobara and obviously he should go off the pitch then we should get a penalty."
Despite these grievances, Johnson acknowledged that the decisions were ultimately made without the usual level of official coordination, leaving the team to contend with the outcome.
"But again, there's no communication between the fourth official and the teammates on the side so again, he's making decisions on his own, all he is worried about is the flags going up on the side," he added.
As Kaizer Chiefs prepare to face Polokwane City and then the already relegated Cape Town Spurs in their final matches of the season, in the next two weekends, the team is looking to end their campaign on a high note. This season has been challenging for the Glamour Boys, and the recent officiating concerns have only added to the complexities of navigating through the league.
Johnson's remarks shed light on the broader issues of communication and decision-making in football officiating, underscoring the need for clarity and consistency in the application of the rules to ensure the integrity of the game.
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