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Pitso Mosimane, the highly respected coach of Al Ahly, was visibly upset and expressed his anger over the decisions made by referee Ma Ning from China during their 1-1 draw against Al-Ahli. Mosimane was particularly frustrated by the sequence of events that led to his team being reduced to 10 men and the two penalties awarded against them, calling the officiating a significant factor in the challenging outcome of the match.
“I still need to review the video, but reducing us to 10 men, especially in a match of this magnitude, is never easy,” Mosimane said after the game in Jeddah. “And two penalties in a single match, that’s not an easy thing to deal with. I was actually afraid the referee might award a third penalty against us,” he added, reflecting his concern over what he felt were questionable decisions that played a crucial role in the result.
The game saw Al Ahly facing tough competition from Al-Ahli, a team known for their star players and attacking prowess. Despite the immense pressure, Mosimane was firm in his belief that the penalty decisions were unnecessary for a team of Al Ahli’s caliber. “Al Ahli is a big team with big stars, they don’t need penalties to score goals,” Mosimane commented. His words highlighted the disparity between the two teams, where he felt Al Ahli had the quality to create chances and score without relying on contentious officiating.
One of Mosimane’s main points of contention was the referee’s refusal to consult the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for the second penalty decision. “I’m just not happy that the referee didn’t go to check VAR for the second penalty,” Mosimane explained. “Why didn’t he check? It’s a very difficult situation to judge with the naked eye, and that’s exactly why we have VAR in place to help with such situations.”
The lack of VAR review, according to Mosimane, was a crucial mistake that could have potentially changed the outcome of the match. He emphasized that referees should utilize all available resources to ensure the fairest decisions are made, especially in high-stakes games like the one they had just played. His comments pointed to the broader issue of officiating standards in football, where the use of technology like VAR can be a game-changer, but its application remains inconsistent.
Mosimane’s frustration was not just about the decisions themselves but about the impact they had on his team’s performance and morale. Playing with 10 men for a significant portion of the match made it much harder for Al Ahly to maintain their usual level of dominance. The penalties, in his view, added unnecessary challenges to an already difficult game. Yet, despite the controversy and the frustration, Mosimane remained focused on his team’s resilience, acknowledging that they had done well under the circumstances.
Ultimately, Mosimane’s comments reflected a sense of injustice over what he felt were unfair decisions that disrupted the flow of the match. With the growing influence of VAR in modern football, the Al Ahly coach’s criticism highlights the importance of using technology to make the right calls, especially when the stakes are high. As Al Ahly prepares for future matches, Mosimane will no doubt continue to advocate for fairness in officiating, hoping for a more balanced approach in the games to come.
