South Africa to discuss ‘devastating’ FIFA order

Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | South Africa football bosses will meet Monday to discuss a “devastating” FIFA order that a 2018 World Cup qualifier against Senegal must be replayed after the referee manipulated the result.

National association president Danny Jordaan said Saturday in a statement that issues for debate could include appealing the decision, writing to FIFA or taking legal action.

He called the order to replay the match during the November 6-14 international window “devastating news that had stressed South Africans”.

WATCH!!! The penalty that earned Ghanaian referee, Joseph Odartei Lamptey FIFA life ban in the #WCQ2018 between South Africa vs Senegal pic.twitter.com/TCUVPK3QZu

— Football Amigos (@Footballamigos) September 8, 2017

South Africa defeated Senegal 2-1 at the group stage last November, but both their goals stemmed from controversial decisions by since-banned Ghanaian referee Joseph Lamptey.

The penalty that enabled South Africa to take the lead was awarded for a non-existent handball with TV replays showing the ball striking the thigh of a defender.

Later, Lamptey was ordering Senegalese players to retreat for a free-kick when it was taken and the home team increased their lead.

FIFA gave Lamptey a life ban for match manipulation and his appeal was rejected this week by Switzerland-baaed international sport judicial body CAS.

NOW:

Referee Joseph Lamptey’s lifetime ban upheld with South Africa vs Senegal game to be replayed #SportsPanorama pic.twitter.com/yQRwzqINJp

— #StopGalamseyNow (@Citi973) September 8, 2017

No details of who might have influenced the Ghanaian to fix the result have been released by FIFA.

Lamptey has a history of controversial decisions in national team and international club fixtures, including allowing a handball goal and playing suspiciously long periods of stoppage time.

The replay decision came this week after South Africa suffered home and away defeats by lowly Cape Verde within five days to diminish hopes of reaching the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Burkina Faso and Cape Verde have six points with two matches to play and Senegal five and South Africa one with three games left. Only group winners qualify.

FIFA offers to compensate South Africa FA for any losses incurred during the contested qualifier vs Senegal. pic.twitter.com/kE1gLCSMwO

— Francis Gaitho (@Kenyafootball) September 7, 2017

South Africa host Burkina Faso in Johannesburg on October 7 and must also play Senegal away during November.

Jordaan urged South Africans not to criticise FIFA general secretary Fatma Samoura, a Senegalese.

“We hold her in high regard as the first African to hold this senior post in our world football governing body,” he said.