Kruger United penalty appeal dismissed as former referee backs Moreki Lekwape

Former PSL referee Victor Hlungwani has supported referee Moreki Lekwape’s decision not to award Kruger United a penalty during their 4-0 defeat by Orlando Pirates.

Kruger United players strongly protested after claiming that Pirates defender Lebone Seema had handled the ball inside the penalty area. However, Lekwape waved away the appeals, and Hlungwani believes the official made the correct call.

The incident came during a match in which Orlando Pirates secured a convincing victory at Mbombela Stadium. The Buccaneers scored four times against the Betway Premiership newcomers to claim a significant win in the tie.

Hlungwani later reviewed the disputed moment and concluded that Seema’s arm was in a natural position rather than deliberately extended towards the ball.

“There’s a handball appeal here,” he said on Soccerzone.

“If you look at it there, the hand is in a natural position.

“There is no handball offence here because the hand is in a natural position and is not outstretched.

“I don’t see it hitting the hand. The hand is going back; he’s hiding the hand.

“So, it did not even hit the hand but we saw Kruger players complaining to the referee saying ‘handball, handball but referee Moreki said no handball’.

“So, correct decision by referee Moreki by not awarding a penalty.”

The former official’s assessment backs Lekwape’s judgement despite the immediate reaction from the Kruger United players, who believed the contact warranted a spot-kick.

Hlungwani’s view is that there was neither a clear handball nor an arm positioned unnaturally. He also suggested that Seema was moving his hand away from the ball, further supporting the referee’s decision to allow play to continue.

The penalty appeal was one of the moments scrutinised after Orlando Pirates’ emphatic result. The outcome gave the Buccaneers a four-goal victory over the Betway Premiership newcomers at Mbombela Stadium.

The match followed wider coverage involving Orlando Pirates, including a report titled “Pirates Starlet Reacts To Away Draw In CAFCL” and the headline “Pirates Held By Mauritius Minnows”. Those references formed part of the surrounding discussion of the club’s recent fixtures.

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