After seeing his side concede a contentious penalty in their 1-0 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns, Cape Town Spurs head coach Ernst Middendorp has insisted he will not “waste more energy” on questioning referees but also asked why SAFA are not talking about the professionalism of the officials.
Spurs conceded a penalty in the 41st minute of the game, after Asanele Velebayi was adjudged to have brought down Peter Shalulile, however it looked like the foul was made outside the box.
Middendorp, who was not happy at half-time and was seen arguing with the match officials as they walked off the pitch, said it is time for this discussion about the “poor refereeing” because they are “crippling” games and club’s livelihoods.
“I read a lot from the Technical Director of SAFA and it’s okay, it’s probably he’s right that and I said it already before in average the quality of coaching should be better,” Middendorp noted after the game.
“More qualification, more licences, there’s no doubt about it but who the hell is talking about crippling games, crippling level of, talking about the referees, talking about make it professional? Talking about make it a more relevant.
“Who’s talking about this department?
“And I think, if we talk about crippling players, crippling games and clubs, I think we should really open a discussion [about referees].”
Middendorp, who has always been one of the most vocal coaches when he feels his side is disadvantaged, also stated that he will stop “wasting his energy” on questioning match officials because nothing is changing.
“It’s not only me, I read it from Orbit [College], I read it from from other teams consequently, and I decided in half-time, I must be honest, I decided in half-time, I don’t want to probably the last comment that I make to it, but I decided in in half-time not to waste my energy with any decisions from this neutral people on the field,” he concluded.
Spurs remained rooted at the bottom of the log with 12 points – five points behind Richards Bay with seven games to go.
