South Africa-Senegal Replay Due To Corruption

FIFA has ordered that a World Cup qualifier between South Africa and Senegal be replayed after the referee awarded a penalty for a non-existent handball and was banned for life for match manipulation.

FIFA says the game, which South Africa won 2-1 in November last year, will be replayed this November. It says it made the decision to order a replay after the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld the lifetime ban for the referee in question, Joseph Lamptey of Ghana.

FIFA found Lamptey guilty of breaching the rule relating to “unlawfully influencing match results.”

He gave a penalty for a non-existent handball against Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly in the game in Polokwane, South Africa. Replays clearly showed the ball struck Koulibaly’s knee and then dropped to the ground.

South Africa scored the penalty and went on to win the qualifier — their only victory so far in the final round of qualifiers in Africa.

A different result could have a big impact on the South Africa-Senegal group, with Senegal trailing joint-leaders Burkina Faso and Cape Verde by a point.

With a win, Senegal would move into first place in the group, while South Africa would be eliminated with that result.

FIFA says the game will be replayed in the November international window, with the exact date yet to be decided.