‘A shame for our football’ – Ben Youssef blasts Pirates over derby brawl

Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Khalil Ben Youssef has launched a scathing attack on Orlando Pirates following unprecedented pre-match drama that saw Amakhosi players forced to abandon their warm-up sessions.

The Glamour Boys clashed with arch-rivals Pirates in a high-stakes Betway Premiership encounter at a sold-out FNB Stadium on Sunday afternoon. While the match ended in a 1-1 draw, the football was nearly eclipsed by a violent physical altercation that broke out before the first whistle.

Pule Mmodi opened the scoring for the Naturena-based side, but Kamogelo Sebelebele’s equaliser ensured the Sea Robbers walked away with a point. The result sees Pirates remain at the summit of the log with 59 points from 26 games, though they missed a massive opportunity to widen the gap between themselves and Mamelodi Sundowns. Chiefs occupy third place with 47 points, keeping their CAF Confederation Cup qualification hopes alive.

𝗕𝗿𝗮𝘄𝗹 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗺𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝗿𝗯𝘆: “𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝘀” 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗙𝗹𝘆

The Soweto Derby at FNB Stadium this afternoon was plunged into chaos before kickoff this afternoon when a violent altercation between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates officials… pic.twitter.com/J4mNlxBcOi

— Pan-Africa Football (@PanAfricaFooty) April 26, 2026

Soweto Derby Chaos: Police Intervene as Pre-Match Brawl Disrupts Warm-ups

The Soweto Derby was plunged into controversy during the warm-up routines as a standard session turned into a “battlefield.” A massive brawl erupted directly in the Amakhosi warm-up zone after Orlando Pirates officials and security reportedly crossed the halfway line into Chiefs’ territory.

The intrusion was so severe that SAPS intervention was required to restore order on the pitch. With their preparation zone compromised and safety a concern, the Chiefs’ technical team pulled their players off the field prematurely, forcing them to regroup in the dressing room before kickoff.

Ben Youssef Fumes: ‘You Can’t Win the League Like That’

A visibly furious Khalil Ben Youssef did not mince words after the match, suggesting the provocation was a calculated tactic to destabilise his squad.

“I think what happened before the game is something that we can’t accept. We are sending a bad picture of our football,” Ben Youssef told the media. “People are waiting to see the football… I think if you want to win the league, you have to beat the teams and win with football, not like that.

“It’s about safety. People from outside came to fight our players in our own half. I think this kind of thing is a shame. Like I said, if you want to win the league, win it with football and then people will say you deserve it. Not like that.”

Despite the chaos, Ben Youssef praised his players for their mental fortitude.

“After what happened before the game, the players showed character. It didn’t disturb us, and we focused on the game. We performed very well, and I think we deserved to win the game. Unfortunately, in this kind of game, if you make a small mistake, you pay cash.”