Hlungwani calls for Mbuthuma charge after Matthews kick

Orlando Pirates striker Yanela Mbuthuma should face disciplinary action for kicking Mamelodi Sundowns forward Tashreeq Matthews during the MTN8 final in Durban, former referee Victor Hlungwani says.

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 captured it.

Hlungwani, now a television pundit, criticised the Premier Soccer League (PSL) for failing to take action against violent conduct as it did in the past. He said Mbuthuma should have been sent off and called for retrospective punishment.

“The blame must go to the league,” Hlungwani told Sowetan on Tuesday.

“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.”

The PSL disciplinary committee (DC) has been criticised for appearing less willing to intervene in incidents missed by match officials.

Under former PSL prosecutor Zola Majavu, players could be summoned retrospectively even when referees had failed to take action. Although the video assistant referee (VAR) system was not in use at the time, Majavu relied on television footage when bringing charges.

The current administration has rarely followed that approach, leaving several players without further punishment.

Attempts by Sowetan to obtain a response from PSL prosecutor Pumzo Mbana, who replaced Majavu in January, were unsuccessful. The league’s head of legal, Michael Murphy, was also unavailable for comment.

Previous disciplinary action

During Majavu’s tenure, the PSL DC took action against several players for violent conduct.

In May 2020, Mamelodi Sundowns’ Gaston Sirino was fined R50,000 and suspended for two matches after striking SuperSport players Clayton Daniels and Dean Furman. Sirino was not shown a yellow card during the incident.

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

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

Recent incidents have not resulted in comparable retrospective action. In October 2023, Sundowns’ Bongani Zungu broke TS Galaxy defender Bernard Parker’s leg in a Carling Knockout tie. Zungu was sent off but served only the mandatory two-match suspension.

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

On August 8 2026, Polokwane’s Surprise Mathonsi left Teboho Mokoena with a deep cut below his chin in an MTN8 quarter-final. Mathonsi received a yellow card, while Mokoena missed several matches.

Mbuthuma did not receive even a yellow card for the incident involving Matthews on October 10 2026.