Former FIFA referee Victor Hlungwani has weighed in on Orlando Pirates’ ongoing protest against St Eloi Lupopo following their CAF Champions League elimination. Pirates have filed a complaint with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), claiming that Lupopo fielded ineligible players and had a suspended coach, Guy Bukasa, on the touchline during their two-legged tie. However, Hlungwani, with over two decades of refereeing experience, believes the protest has no valid grounds.
Orlando Pirates’ argument centers on the suspension of Bukasa, who was previously banned from coaching the DR Congo U-20 national team. Pirates claim his presence on the bench made the game unfair, yet Hlungwani argues that a coach’s suspension does not impact the eligibility of the players or the match outcome. According to Hlungwani, the rules regarding player eligibility are strict and easily enforceable through the CAF management system (CMS), which automatically rejects the participation of suspended players.
He emphasized that while players must be eligible to compete, a coach’s suspension has no direct influence on the game’s outcome, as the coach does not play. “What will happen? Nothing will happen because these are different competitions,” Hlungwani said, stressing that CAF’s procedures are robust enough to prevent ineligible players from participating.
Hlungwani also noted that the eligibility of players is confirmed via the CMS system, which prevents teams from fielding players who are suspended or otherwise ineligible. “The CMS will refuse if the player is suspended. It’s the same system used in domestic leagues like the PSL,” he explained. Given this, he concluded that Pirates’ protest would be unsuccessful, as the rules are clear and the case against Lupopo is weak.
The dismissal of Pirates’ complaint signals that CAF is unlikely to overturn the result of the CAF Champions League match. With no substantial evidence to support their claims, the protest is expected to be rejected, leaving St Eloi Lupopo’s victory intact.
Hlungwani’s insights offer clarity on the matter, revealing that the systems in place make it highly unlikely for a team to unknowingly field an ineligible player. He believes there is no case to answer and that the fixtures will continue as scheduled without any change in the outcome for Orlando Pirates.
