It has been confirmed that the South Africa vs Senegal 2018 World Cup qualifier will be replayed.
This was following the decision to hand Ghanaian referee, J. O. Lamptey, a lifetime ban for manipulation over incidents in a match involving the two countries.
See: Everything You Should Know About FIFA’s Life Ban on Ghanaian Referee Lamptey Over Match Manipulation
Joseph Lamptey was found guilty of unlawfully influencing a World Cup qualifier match result following South Africa’s 2-1 win over Senegal in November 2016 in African Group D.
The Terenga Lions of Senegal who were very popular at the beginning of the first-half were thrown off balance at the 43rd minute, following Joseph Lamptey’s controversial decision; when he awarded a clearly doubtful and suspicious penalty.
After several replays of the incident, it was deduced and confirmed that the Ghanaian referee was indeed partial in his judgment, as the incident was clearly not a penalty. As a matter of fact, the ball struck Koulibaly’s knee and then dropped to the ground.
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SA who converted the penalty won the game with a 2-1 victory against Senegal; taking them second place in the
four-team group.
However, The Bureau for the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers ordered a replay of the qualification match. The South Africa vs Senegal match will be replayed within the November 2017 international window, with the exact date to be confirmed in due course.
Currently, Senegal and South Africa are third and fourth respectively in Africa’s Group D behind Burkina Faso and Cape Verde Islands. Only the top team qualify for next year’s finals in Russia.
Per FIFA’s ban, referee Joseph Lamptey will no longer function at any social football match nationally or internationally for the rest of his life, unless FIFA rescinds its decision.
CAF had suspended the referee for three months as a way of sanctioning him for his partiality. However, upon getting close to the end of the three months ban, FIFA landed him a life ban, from officiating at any level of football.
The ban which was issued in March 2017, was on Wednesday, September 6, upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
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