FIFA World Cup 2026: South Africa national football team’s coach Hugo Broos has declared that they would appeal the red card and a three-match suspension given to Themba Zwane during the tournament-opener against Mexico in Mexico City. Broos also called out the double-standard, claiming why Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi received a different treatment in the game against Algeria despite stomping on an opposition player’s leg.
FIFA World Cup 2026: South Africa severely affected by the red card during their defeat to Mexico
Zwane was shown a red card during the 84th minute of his side’s campaign opener against Mexico, reducing South Africa to nine men during their 2-0 loss and was later slapped with a three-match ban for violent conduct, including their game against Czechia. On the other hand, during Argentina’s campaign opener against Algeria, no action was taken against Messi even when he stamped on the back of Aissa Mandi’s leg, which Broos feels is a double standard in officiation as he pointed out the red card given to Zwane as “too severe”.
“I do not want Messi to get a red card, a player like that has to be on the pitch, we all saw what a wonderful player he is, but what’s the difference? Zwane’s red card is too severe. I watched the situation back with Themba, and I do not think it was a red. When I compare it to what happened yesterday with Messi, I certainly do not agree. I do not think there was even a VAR review with Messi, whereas this incident was reviewed,” Broos said during the pre-match presser on Wednesday, as quoted by ESPN.
Zwane was dismissed 23 minutes after being introduced on the pitch, appearing to raise his arms towards a Mexican defender as his side were in attack mode, and the 36-year-old was stunned when Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio showed him a red card after VAR review.
“When you look at the situation, the Mexican player blocks my player, he is not looking at the ball, he is just holding Themba. Themba tries to get over him, puts his arm over his shoulder, and for that you get a red card and a three-match suspension!? I am sorry, but it is much too severe,” he added.
With South Africa’s appeal pending, Zwane will not be in action till the round of 16 at the earliest, if South Africa reach there for the first time in their World Cup history, which would be a hard task without one of their experienced and creative stars.
Another player from the side, Sphephelo Sithole, also faces a one-match suspension after he was dismissed for denying a goal-scoring opportunity in the 50th minute of South Africa’s opener. On the other hand, Messi escaped without any sanctions, firing his first-ever FIFA World Cup hat-trick and becoming the joint-leading goal-scorer in the tournament’s history.
(With inputs from ANI)
