Mbuthuma faces calls for retrospective ban after Matthews kick

Orlando Pirates striker Yanela Mbuthuma should be charged retrospectively for kicking Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Tashreeq Matthews during the MTN8 final in Durban, says former referee Victor Hlungwani.

Mbuthuma appeared to deliberately kick his Bafana Bafana team-mate in the ankle while lying on the ground during Saturday’s match. Referee Abongile Tom did not see the incident, but television footage later showed the kick.

Hlungwani has criticised the PSL disciplinary committee (DC), which he believes has become reluctant to punish incidents of violent conduct. He said Mbuthuma should have been sent off and called for the Orlando Pirates forward to face retrospective action.

“The blame must go to the league,” Hlungwani told Sowetan yesterday. “The league isn’t acting against these violent incidents now, and I don’t know why. There have been a number of them this season, where players should have been charged with violent conduct and bringing the league into disrepute.

“That Mbuthuma incident was violent conduct because he used brutality and excessive force against an opponent when he wasn’t challenging for the ball, so he should have been sent off. I think the DC should summon him and punish him because he nearly ended someone’s career.”

In previous years, PSL prosecutor Zola Majavu regularly referred players to the disciplinary committee after officials had missed serious incidents. Although VAR was not in use at the time, Majavu used television footage to bring charges and secure retrospective sanctions.

Hlungwani says the current administration has not followed that approach, leaving a number of players without punishment. Attempts by Sowetan to contact the PSL’s new prosecutor, Pumzo Mbana, were unsuccessful. Mbana replaced Majavu in January. The league’s head of legal, Michael Murphy, was also unreachable.

Previous retrospective action

While Majavu was prosecutor, Sundowns forward Gaston Sirino was fined R50,000 and suspended for two matches in May 2020 for striking SuperSport players Clayton Daniels and Dean Furman. Sirino had not been shown a yellow card.

In October 2017, Bidvest Wits’ Gabadinho Mhango received an effective six-match ban for spitting in the face of AmaZulu’s Michael Morton. Morton was sent off and suspended for two games after pushing Mhango to the ground, while Mhango was not shown a card at the time.

Maritzburg defender Gary Goldstone was fined R10,000 and banned for two matches in September 2008 after elbowing Kaizer Chiefs’ Tshepo Bulu. He received only a yellow card from the referee.

Recent incidents without further action

In October 2023, Sundowns’ Bongani Zungu was sent off after breaking TS Galaxy’s Bernard Parker’s leg in a Carling Knockout tie. He served only the mandatory two-game suspension, with no retrospective charge.

AmaZulu’s Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya received a yellow card for a challenge on Orlando Pirates’ Sihle Nduli on August 14 2026. Nduli suffered a grade 3 ankle ligament tear and was ruled out for three months.

On August 8 2026, Polokwane’s Surprise Mathonsi was booked after leaving Teboho Mokoena with a deep cut below his chin in an MTN8 quarter-final. Mokoena missed several matches, while Mathonsi received no further punishment.

Mbuthuma was not shown even a yellow card for the kick on Matthews in the MTN8 final on October 10 2026.