Former Kaizer Chiefs head coach Sergio Dos Santos has questioned the officiating during Saturday’s Soweto Derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, insisting that the Buccaneers’ opening goal should not have been allowed to stand.

Dos Santos shared his assessment of the controversial decisions that attracted attention during the encounter, particularly the circumstances surrounding the two goals scored by Orlando Pirates.

The Soweto Derby, played at the FNB Stadium on Saturday, October 31, 2026, ended in a 2-1 victory for Orlando Pirates, with Yanela Mbuthuma and Tshepang Moremi finding the back of the net for the Buccaneers.

Kaizer Chiefs managed to get back into the contest through Pule Mmodi, who capitalised on a mistake by Pirates goalkeeper Sipho Chaine to make it 1-1 before the half-time break.

However, Moremi scored the winning goal in the second half after receiving a pass from Thapelo Mokobodi, securing all three points for Orlando Pirates.

Speaking about the officiating, Dos Santos argued that Mbuthuma appeared to be in an offside position when the ball was played to him before he scored Pirates’ opening goal.

He maintained that the movement of a Kaizer Chiefs defender may have confused the assistant referee, making it difficult for the official to correctly judge the incident.

Dos Santos also questioned the build-up to Pirates’ second goal, suggesting that there was a possibility of an offside position during the attacking move.

However, the former Chiefs coach was careful not to blame the match officials entirely for the outcome of the encounter.

“I’m not gonna say the referee decided the game,” Dos Santos explained, acknowledging that the movement of the Chiefs defender could have influenced how the assistant referee interpreted the situation.

His comments have added to the ongoing discussions surrounding the officiating in the Soweto Derby, with several football personalities and supporters analysing the decisions made during the match.

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