Former Premier Soccer League (PSL) referee Victor Hlungwani has sparked fresh debate among South African football supporters after questioning the decision to allow Yanela Mbuthuma’s opening goal against Kaizer Chiefs during the Soweto Derby.

Hlungwani believes the goal should not have stood because Mbuthuma was allegedly in an offside position when the attacking move unfolded.

The former referee shared his assessment during a Soweto Derby analysis on SABC1's SoccerZone, where he examined some of the major officiating decisions from the highly anticipated encounter.

According to Hlungwani, the positioning of the attacking players during the build-up to the goal raised questions about whether the correct decision had been made by the match officials.

His assessment has added another layer of controversy to a fixture that traditionally attracts enormous attention from football supporters across the country.

Yanela Mbuthuma's goal was an important moment in the match, particularly given the intense rivalry between Kaizer Chiefs and their Soweto opponents. However, Hlungwani's explanation has prompted renewed discussions about the role of match officials and the importance of making accurate offside decisions in high-profile matches.

For Kaizer Chiefs supporters, the former referee's comments could be particularly frustrating, as they raise questions about whether the goal should have counted in the first place.

Offside decisions remain among the most debated aspects of football, with even small positional differences potentially determining whether a goal is allowed or disallowed.

Hlungwani's intervention has therefore reignited discussions about the officiating in the Soweto Derby, with supporters likely to continue debating whether the goal was correctly awarded.

Source : https://x.com/ChiefsCentralZA/status/2117338255079395509/photo/1?a=KToVUGa0tv54mSGHmXE&s=19