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CAF bans Tunisian referee

By GNA
Cup of Nations Slim Jedidi
FEB 8, 2013 LISTEN
Slim Jedidi

Port Elizabeth, Feb. 7, GNA - Confederation of African Football (CAF) has banned Tunisian referee, Slim Jedidi, following his controversial performance in Wednesday's Africa Cup of Nations semi-final between Ghana and Burkina Faso in Nelspruit.

General Secretary of the continental body, Hicham El Amrani told a media briefing on Thursday that 'CAF was not happy with the standard of refereeing in the match. We know they can make mistakes but we expected a better level of refereeing.

'They are graded on each performance and based on his marks; the referee from Tunisia (Jedidi) is now suspended for a period of time still to be determined."

Jedidi's performance in the game Burkina Faso won to book a place in the final has come under the microscope after dishing out several contentious decisions which included a red card to Burkina Faso forward, Jonathan Pitroipa that takes him out of the last two clash against Nigeria.

The referee gave Pitroipa his second yellow card for simulation, in extra time after going down in the penalty area despite contact from Ghana's central defender, John Boye.

Information gathered by GNA Sports indicates that the CAF Organising Committee will decide on Friday, whether the player can take part in the final billed for Johannesburg on Sunday, February 10 though El-Amrani explained "the Organising Committee does not have the power to change a referee's decision."

Pitroipa's ban could only be overturned if Jedidi acknowledges he made a mistake in his referee's report. "If the referee has admitted a mistake in his report, the committee will consider it and make any decision if necessary. But that report is final."

Burkina Faso eventually won 3-2 on penalties to book their first ever place in the finals.

(By Veronica Commey, GNA Correspondent in Port Elizabeth, courtesy Ministry of Youth and Sports)

GNA

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