Former PSL referee Victor Hlungwani has lent his voice to the officiating controversies that marred Kaizer Chiefs’ 2-0 loss to Polokwane City, supporting head coach Nasreddine Nabi on two out of three contentious decisions.
The defeat marked the Glamour Boys’ third in the Betway Premiership this season, dropping them to ninth place, while Polokwane City surged to third.
After the match, Nabi expressed frustration over officiating, particularly regarding Bradley Cross’s injury, two penalty appeals, and a yellow card issued to Mduduzi Shabalala.
Hlungwani, known as “The Principal,” reviewed the incidents and acknowledged that Nabi had valid grievances on two occasions, while he deemed one decision correct.
The first incident involved a tackle by Thabang Matuludi on Bradley Cross, which left the Chiefs defender seriously injured. Hlungwani described the challenge as reckless.
“Matuludi’s boot-to-boot tackle was reckless, and the player should have been cautioned,” he told Sports Night Amplified. “The referee missed the severity of the challenge, but slow-motion footage shows it bordered on excessive force. Nabi had a case here.”
The second incident occurred in the 53rd minute when Tebogo Potsane appeared to be fouled by Bulelani Nikani in the penalty area. However, Hlungwani sided with the referee on this call.
“The question is whether Nikani touched the ball. Footage shows he got the ball, and its direction changed. Therefore, there was no penalty, and Nabi does not have a case on this one,” he explained.
The final controversial moment came in the 76th minute when Mduduzi Shabalala was booked for simulation after being fouled.
Hlungwani criticized the referee’s decision, noting, “Shabalala was kicked after playing the ball, yet he received a yellow card for simulation. The law does not support this. He should have been awarded a free kick instead.”
Hlungwani concluded by acknowledging Nabi’s frustration, stating, “Two of these decisions could have gone Chiefs’ way, and the referee should have done better.”
The incidents have reignited debates over the quality of officiating in the PSL, with calls for greater consistency and accountability. For Kaizer Chiefs, the focus now shifts to recovering from a difficult start to their campaign.