Former Premier Soccer League referee Victor Hlungwani has defended the officiating decision surrounding Orlando Pirates' goal against Sekhukhune United, insisting that the strike was legitimate and should not have been ruled out for offside.

The controversial incident attracted attention from football supporters, with questions raised about whether the Pirates player involved in the attacking move was in an offside position when the ball was delivered into the penalty area.

However, Hlungwani has offered his assessment of the situation, explaining why he believes the referee made the correct decision by allowing the goal to stand.

According to the former official, the positioning of the attacking player at the moment the ball was crossed was crucial in determining whether an offside offence had occurred.

"The ball goes to Padime who was not in an offside position from when the ball was crossed. So, correct decision by the referee to award the goal in this situation.

Hlungwani's explanation suggests that the attacking movement was within the laws of the game, meaning there was no reason for the referee to disallow the goal.

Under football's offside regulations, a player is only penalised if they are in an offside position and become involved in active play at the relevant moment. The player's position when a teammate plays or touches the ball is therefore essential when assessing such incidents.

The former PSL referee's comments provide further clarification for supporters who questioned the decision during the encounter.

For Orlando Pirates, having the goal recognised was important in a match that generated discussions about the quality of officiating.

Meanwhile, Hlungwani's assessment has added another perspective to the debate, explaining why the referee's decision was consistent with the offside regulations.

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