Fifa has banned Ghanaian referee Joseph Odartei Lamptey for life after he awarded a dubious penalty in South Africa’s 2-1 win over Senegal in the 2018 World Cup qualifier on November 12, 2016.
A statement released on the Fifa website on Monday confirmed the development that follows a complaint by the Senegal Football Federation (FSF) that initially led to a three-month ban by Caf.
“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.”
Lamptey awarded South Africa a penalty in the 43rd minute after deeming that Senegalese midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye had handled the ball inside his penalty area.
Television replays showed that the ball hit Gueye’s leg but Lamptey went ahead to overrule his assistant who had indicated for a corner kick that the Bafana Bafana players did not contest and were indeed shocked that Lamptey insisted on the penalty.
Thulani Hlatshwayo converted from the spot a minute later before substitute Cheikh Ndoye equalised in the 78th minute. Thulani Serero scored the winner in stoppage time to win it for the home side.
Caf had earlier banned Lamptey for three months and excluded him from the list of referees to officiate at Afcon 2017 in Gabon.
Fifa further revealed that, “Further information concerning the South Africa v Senegal match in question will be provided once the decision becomes final and binding.”
In 2010, Lamptey was suspended for six months for a controversial decision in the Caf Champions League semifinal tie between Egyptian giants Al Ahly and Esperance of Tunisia when he allowed a handball goal by Nigerian forward Michael Eneramo to stand in favour of the latter.
