Senegal FA jubilate over FIFA’s lifetime ban on Ghanaian referee Lamptey

The Senegal Football Federation (FSF) has hailed the handing of a lifetime ban to Ghanaian referee Joseph Odartei Lamptey by FIFA.

The world football governing body slammed the heavy punishment on Lamptey on Monday, after finding him guilty of ‘unlawfully influencing the result’ of a world Cup qualifier between South Africa and Senegal on Nov 12, 2016.

Over what it termed “match manipulation”, the Zurich-based body banned the Ghanian from “taking part in any kind of football-related activity (administrative, sports or any other) at national and international level for life.”

Lamptey was criticised after gifting South Africa a penalty in the clash at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, for awarding a penalty for a ‘handball’ that actually struck Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly’s knee, a decision that proved influential as South Africa scored from the resulting spot-kick to make it 1-0, and went on to record a 2-1 victory.

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And the Senegalese who made a complaint to the world governing body, is thrilled with the decision.

“Today there are many reasons to be happy about this decision – a decision that will be remembered as being significant but will also warn everybody that they are being watched,” FSF vice-president Abdoulaye Sow told BBC Sport.

“All cheating and stealing will be punished according to its gravity.

“Fifa has clearly struck a big blow and has promised in its decision to talk again about the match when the decision is final and binding.”

However, FIFA is yet to make a decision over the outcome of the match, as they added in a statement released on Monday that “further information concerning the South Africa v. Senegal match in question will be provided once the decision becomes final and binding.”

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