Kenya’s Aden Range Marwa has withdrawn from his role as an assistant referee for the 2018 World Cup, just about a week to the start of the tournament after a BBC Africa Eye exposé by Ghanaian journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas revealed he received a $600 bribe during the 2018 Chan tournament in Morocco.
The 41-year-old Mathematics and Chemistry teacher at Komotobo Secondary School had only left for the Russia tournament last Saturday after Kenya’s Teachers Service Commission (TCS) granted him a one-month leave.
Marwa, who was at the last World Cup in Brazil, now loses a retainer of $25,000 with an additional $2,000 for every match he would have officiated this time at the mundial.
World football governing body, Fifa, in its response to BBC on the claims raised by the documentary stated:
“Please be informed that the assistant referee Adel Range Marwa has informed Fifa that he resigns from his role as assistant referee at the upcoming World Cup.”
The sting
The BBC Africa Eye footage shows Marwa receiving the cash (in dollar bills) inside what appears to be a hotel room.
At the time, he is clad in the official referee track uniform complete with the Fifa badge.
Interestingly, the match official is heard in the clip acknowledging the cash as a ‘gift’ and even seems all too keen to extend the friendship.
He tells the BBC Africa Eye undercover reporter who is not visible on camera: “You know, thank you for the gift but the most important is friendship, getting to know each other.”
Aden Rnage Marwa, on his seventh year as a Fifa referee, was among 10 assistant referees from Africa to officiate in the tournament. Five center referees from the continent will also officiate matches.
