Mamelodi Sundowns Coach Addresses Referee Bias Allegations, Says Results Are Down to Luck

• Rulani Mokwena has spoken out about recent refereeing decisions going his team's way
• Mamelodi Sundowns controversially eliminated Yanga from the CAF Champions League
• The Tanzanian champions thought they had scored but the referee disallowed the goal

Mamelodi Sundowns coach, Rulani Mokwena, has weighed in on recent refereeing decisions that have seemingly favoured his team.

The team secured a spot in the CAF Champions League semi-final after a tense 3-2 penalty shootout victory over Young Africans on April 5.

The match was not without its controversies, notably during the 57th minute, when a goal scored by Stephane Aziz Ki was disallowed despite the availability of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology.

As reported by the Citizen, the Tanzanian champions have since lodged a formal complaint with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), alleging potential administrative oversights and match-fixing.

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The East African club argued that match officials, led by Dahane Beida from Mauritania, failed to review the disallowed goal via the VAR, raising questions about the integrity of the refereeing decisions.

Reflecting on the claims, Mokwena acknowledged the situation but stated his focus was on Sundowns securing positive results.

"I just watch the games. I can tell you that my opinion [is] that the decisions were right and those are just my opinions - I’m not an official ref. But of course, these are the things that happen in football," he said, as quoted by iDiski Times.

Drawing from past experiences, including losing an MTN8 final due to what he believed were unfair decisions, Mokwena highlighted the cyclical nature of winning and losing in sports.

Referencing the Brazilians' previous CAF Champions League campaign, where they were eliminated despite being unbeaten, he stressed the belief in the balance of fortune over time, attributing the team's current success to what he perceives as God's grace.

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Sports Brief also reported that Miguele Cardoso, Esperance coach, warned his players ahead of their semi-final showdown versus Mamelodi Sundowns.

The Tunisian outfit booked a ticket to the last four after seeing off Asec Mimosa 4-2 on post-match penalties in Ivory Coast, after 180 minutes over two legs.