Miguel Cardoso fumes as Sundowns boss claims Orlando Pirates benefitting from ‘red carpet’ treatment

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has sharpened his criticism of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) and match officials, alleging that structural and administrative factors have tilted the title race in favour of Orlando Pirates as the champions move to the brink of losing their crown.

The eight-time consecutive champions suffered a damaging 3-2 defeat to TS Galaxy in Mbombela, a result that left Orlando Pirates on the verge of securing their first league title since 2012.

With two matches remaining, Pirates need just three points to seal the championship, setting up a decisive final stretch against Durban City and Orbit College.

The outcome has intensified scrutiny on Sundowns’ faltering campaign and the broader conditions surrounding the run-in.

Cardoso argued that the congestion of fixtures has been decisive in undermining his squad’s rhythm, insisting the schedule, rather than opponents, has been the primary obstacle.

“I know people say, ‘excuses, excuses’, but I invite anyone to really look at the calendar these boys [Mamelodi Sundowns players] have been involved in the last 21 days. We were not beaten by whoever but by the calendar,” Cardoso said.

He added that the stretch of matches following their CAF Champions League semi-final left minimal recovery time, explaining: “After playing Esperance [in the Caf Champions League semifinal last month], we played seven matches in 21 days. This [the Galaxy game] is the fourth in a row [playing after] a fourth day.”

He further stressed the physical toll on players, noting constant travel and recovery demands have severely limited preparation and disrupted team cohesion during a decisive period.

Beyond fatigue concerns, Cardoso escalated his criticism to officiating and competition management, insisting key decisions and logistical choices have consistently worked against Sundowns in decisive moments.

“I just want you to remember that in our game against Chiefs we had Jayden Adams given a yellow card for simulation that wasn’t; it was a tackle where he jumped to avoid that tackle. He was red-carded in a moment where we were going for a win as we were in total control of the match.”

He also suggested that venue selection and match conditions have not been evenly balanced, claiming some opponents have benefitted from more favourable stadiums and surfaces while Sundowns endured tighter pitches and heavier travel demands. The coach maintained that such factors, alongside contentious refereeing decisions, have influenced momentum in the title race, which now appears to be swinging toward Orlando Pirates.

Sundowns completed their domestic schedule early to accommodate CAF Champions League commitments, with the first leg of the final against AS FAR set for Sunday at Loftus Versfeld and the return leg in Morocco on May 24, leaving Cardoso’s side navigating a congested end to the campaign amid title pressure this season’s run-in period.