Back
The controversy surrounding the officiating in the Soweto Derby has taken another twist after former Premier Soccer League referee Victor Hlungwani questioned referee Luxolo Badi's decision not to send off Orlando Pirates midfielder Simphiwe Selepe during the encounter against Kaizer Chiefs.
Pirates secured a 2-1 victory over their bitter rivals at FNB Stadium on Saturday, October 31, 2026, but several refereeing decisions have continued to attract criticism and debate among football supporters.
Speaking during his analysis on SABC1's SoccerZone, Hlungwani argued that Selepe deserved a second yellow card for committing an offence that stopped a promising attacking opportunity for Chiefs. The former referee believes the incident warranted a caution, which would have resulted in Selepe receiving a red card because he had already been booked.
However, Badi decided against showing the Pirates midfielder another yellow card, allowing him to continue playing. Hlungwani's assessment has consequently raised questions about whether the referee missed an important opportunity to apply the Laws of the Game correctly.
According to football regulations, players can receive yellow cards for stopping promising attacking moves through offences punishable by a free kick or penalty. A second caution automatically results in dismissal.
The Selepe incident is another addition to the growing list of controversial decisions from the highly anticipated derby. Hlungwani had also questioned Yanela Mbuthuma's opening goal, suggesting that it should have been disallowed for offside.
Chiefs coach Fernando Da Cruz similarly expressed dissatisfaction with aspects of the officiating, including an alleged offside situation and a possible second-yellow-card offence.
Despite the criticism, Orlando Pirates remain the official winners of the encounter. Hlungwani's television analysis does not constitute an official ruling or change the result.
The latest development has intensified discussions about refereeing standards in South African football, with supporters continuing to question whether Badi's decisions influenced the outcome of one of the country's biggest football fixtures.
Source:
Back
Top
| Privacy Statement Terms of Service Contact |
Refresh
|
All the best breaking news stories from Apex Scores Lite. Optimised for feature phones and low end Android devices, Apex Scores Lite helps users with legacy devices and poor network connectivity access the latest football news and live scores. Particularly relevant for breaking football news in Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa.