Sundowns, in recent weeks, has gained incredible momentum, defeating their closest rival, Pirates, and securing a 12-point lead with a game advantage.
However, they are also making headlines for their aggressive style of play.
So far, a total of 538 yellow cards and 22 red cards have been shown in the South African league this season. Sundowns, who sit at the top of the table with 45 points from 17 matches, have received 33 yellow cards and 9 red cards. No other team has received this many red cards this season.
Compared to last season, Sundowns is playing a much more aggressive style of football. The reigning champions only received 6 red cards throughout the entire previous season. With 13 league matches still to be played, it seems highly likely that this number could double.
Head coach Miguel Cardoso commented on the red cards:
“The way the game finished wasn’t the best, in terms of dealing with [another] red card. The cards are becoming too easy to be given to our players, it has nothing to do with Marumo.“
“It has to do, in general, with teams playing against Sundowns. They always find moments to stop the game, especially when we are stronger and getting closer to scoring. It happened again – it’s a way to manage the game. I can’t say anything.“
“But in those moments, I never see yellow cards given to players for time-wasting. Then we saw Denis – he had to kick the ball forward, he received a yellow card, and after that, there was an action for a second yellow and then the red.“
“I think the red cards for Sundowns are becoming cheap. They are coming out very easily.”