Orlando Pirates have received a favourable refereeing assessment following questions surrounding their goal against Sekhukhune United, with former Premier Soccer League referee Victor Hlungwani explaining why the match officials were correct to allow the goal.

The goal sparked debate among football supporters, with some questioning whether the Orlando Pirates player who scored, Padime, was in an offside position during the attacking move.

However, Hlungwani has now offered his professional assessment of the incident, insisting that the referee and assistant referee made the right decision by allowing the goal to stand.

According to the former PSL official, the most important factor when determining whether an offside offence occurred was Padime's position at the exact moment the ball was played by his teammate.

"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 explained.

His comments have provided further clarity on the controversial moment, particularly regarding how football's offside rule should be applied in such situations.

Under the Laws of the Game, a player can only be penalised for offside if they are in an offside position when a teammate plays or touches the ball and subsequently become involved in active play.

Simply standing closer to the opponent's goal does not automatically mean a player has committed an offside offence.

In Padime's situation, Hlungwani believes the Pirates player was correctly positioned when the ball was delivered into the attacking area. This means there was no infringement, making the decision to award the goal legitimate.

The explanation will undoubtedly encourage Orlando Pirates supporters who believed their team had scored a perfectly legal goal against Sekhukhune United.

Meanwhile, the incident may remain a subject of discussion among Sekhukhune supporters, particularly those who questioned the officials' decision during the match.

Refereeing decisions have become an increasingly debated issue in South African football, with supporters frequently raising concerns about offside calls, penalties and other incidents that can influence the outcome of important matches.

Hlungwani's assessment highlights the importance of examining the exact moment a teammate releases the ball rather than judging a potential offside situation based solely on where the goalscorer eventually receives it.

For Orlando Pirates, the former referee's explanation provides reassurance that Padime's goal was correctly awarded according to the laws of the game.

Ultimately, Hlungwani has made his position clear: the match officials were right to allow the Buccaneers' goal to stand.

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