"When you have officials like this, thank God there was no disaster there."

That was how Kaizer Chiefs coach Steve Komphela prefaced his appeal for the Soweto derby to be handled by foreign referees.

Chiefs and Orlando Pirates played to a one-all draw in the latest instalment of the derby at FNB Stadium on Saturday and Komphela spoke out afterwards about referee Phillip Tinyani's officiating.

Komphela suggested the league should consider foreign referees for a match of this magnitude.

"If all stakeholders, all of us, understand the importance of football and all of us are footballing people, we will always strive to elevate the game and never try relegate the game," an agitated Komphela said.

"It is very difficult. I'm saying this and I never sought counsel from our media officers because they tend to say, 'Coach, this one might come back to bite you...' [But] sometimes you become genuine and say you know what, as a football person I've got to say this.

"I cannot dictate to officials and I cannot suggest, but I can only voice what I think is relevant based on circumstances. If you have to, get referees from outside of South Africa because this is a big match and whether you like it or not, it can keep people away depending on how all the stakeholders treat [the derby].

"When you have officials like this, thank God there was no disaster there... So if we have to go to Botswana, Swaziland, Uganda, Gabon to get a referee, my Lord we would appreciate that. Let's kill each other in the field and let the man in the middle be the mediator."