FIFA’s disciplinary committee has banned Ghanaian referee Joseph LAMPTEY for life as a result of an incident at a CAF Group D match between South Africa and Senegal on SAT 12 NOV 2016, a 2-1 win for South Africa. The committee ruled that Lamptey was guilty of “unlawfully influencing match results”, raising the possibility of a replay of the match.

In the match played in Polokwane, Lamptey awarded a penalty to South Africa for a handball, despite replays showing clearly that the ball struck Senegal defender Kalidou KOULIBALY in the leg, not the arm. Thulani HLATSHWAYO converted the penalty in the 42nd minute, opening the scoring.

The committee’s statement announced that further information will be provided “once the decision becomes final and binding”, meaning upon the completion of any appeals. The match may be annulled and replayed, as occurred in a 2006 Men’s World Cup qualifier between Uzbekistan and Bahrain. FIFA found that the referee should have awarded a retake rather than an indirect kick upon observing a penalty taker’s teammate encroaching on the penalty area.