FIFA slap life ban on SA-Senegal referee

According to the FIFA statement, further information concerning the South Africa vs. Senegal match in question will be provided once the decision becomes final and binding.

The impact on the outcome of the match or status of the match, which hosts Bafana Bafana won 2-1 and was the last match in charge for former coach Shakes Mashaba, is unclear at this stage.

Lamptey was suspended for three months in the aftermath of that FIFA World Cup qualifier following a poor showing.

The Ghanain official awarded a very controversial penalty to Bafana Bafana just before the break, adjudging that the ball had hit a Senegalese defender's hand when in fact it had struck his leg.

Thulani Hlatswayo scored from the peanlty spot and the hosts went on to secure an all-important 2-1 victory.

Here is the full FIFA Statement:

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has decided to ban the Ghanaian match official Joseph Odartei Lamptey from taking part in any kind of football-related activity (administrative, sports or any other) at national and international level for life.

The official was found guilty of breaching art. 69 par. 1 (unlawfully influencing match results) of the FIFA Disciplinary Code during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ qualifying match between South Africa and Senegal on 12 November 2016. 

On the other hand, all charges against the Ghanaian match official David Lionheart Nii Lartey Laryea, whose behaviour had also been the subject of investigations, were dismissed by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.

FIFA follows a zero-tolerance policy on match manipulation and is committed to protecting the integrity of football. As a result, FIFA ill continue with its ongoing efforts to combat match manipulation through a variety of initiatives, which include the monitoring of international betting and a confidential reporting system with a dedicated integrity hotline and e-mail address.