Cape Town – Pitso Mosimane criticised referee Phelelani Ndaba's performance in Sundowns' 0-0 draw with Highlands Park, but suggested he was holding back his true feelings for fear of a fine.
Ndaba controversially sent off Ricardo Nascimento five minutes into the second half. He appeared set to give Nascimento a yellow card before the defender's reaction to the decision seemingly changed his mind.
The referee also brandished a total of eight yellow cards, five of which went the way of Highlands Park. However, Mosimane questioned the consistency of his decision-making.
"My players did whatever they had to do. I'm not encouraging Ricardo to get a red card. I always… I'm the one who speaks against that. Even Gaston's yellow card, I think was uncalled for," he told SuperSport.
"That's where I want to talk about my players. The other side, I'm not here to talk about. It was very tacky… management of the game could be better."
Mosimane continued: "I was not happy with Sirino getting a yellow card. I'm not saying he doesn't deserve it. Probably the referee is right, and if he's right, he must give it.
"But what about the boy going through to Denis Onyango a minute before? So they [Sundowns players] get frustrated. They are human beings – but what can I do?"
Hinting that he did not want to pick up a fine for his criticism of Ndaba, Mosimane said: "It's frustrating. I don't want to say anything else. You know what I can say. You know what I'm capable of saying, but [let me] save money for my children."
