Manqoba Mngqithi demands VAR after controversial Kaizer Chiefs defeat

Golden Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi has added his voice to growing calls for the introduction of VAR after his side suffered a 1–0 defeat to Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium on Tuesday evening.

A first-half strike from Aiden McCarthy condemned Abafana Bes’thende to their ninth league loss of the campaign and a second defeat to the Soweto giants this season, having also lost by the same scoreline earlier in the return leg.

The result extends Arrows’ poor run to four consecutive defeats, leaving them 10th on the standings. Mngqithi was particularly aggrieved by the manner in which the decisive goal was conceded, expressing frustration over what he believed was an offside call and the continued delay in implementing VAR in the league.

“It’s not what we were looking for, and it’s worse when we lose from an offside goal,” Mngqithi said after the match.

“I do not want to blame the officials on this one. I think it’s high time that the league looks at this differently because the reality is that the game has become too dynamic, and it’s very difficult for officials to follow every movement.

“Even we see some of these things too late because we have a chance to look at the video footage, so we can’t expect referees to be in touch with everything that happens in the game.”

The goal stemmed from a scrappy sequence inside the Arrows penalty area, with McCarthy reacting quickest to a loose ball to hand Chiefs the lead. Mngqithi insisted the league must live up to its standards, given what is at stake.

“On the first ball that was played, Aiden was not offside, but when the ball touched Silva, Aiden was offside. That was offside because he scored after that action,” Mngqithi added.

“The reality is that VAR is more than important. We are not playing for R200 but for R20 million, and it’s very important that we up our game as the biggest league in Africa,” Mngqithi concluded.