CAF denies sanctioning referee Lamptey

الخميس، 21 أكتوبر 2010 - 19:04

كتب : Hatem Maher

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) denied punishing referee Joseph Lamptey after his blunder helped Esperance to a 1-0 Champions League semi-final victory over Ahli.

The Ghanaian official came in for stinging criticism after failing to disallow an early goal scored by Nigerian striker Michael Eneramo which eventually gave Tunisia's Esperance a place in the elite competition's final on the away-goal rule.

Eneramo used his forearm to steer a corner kick home at the far post and enrage the visitors, who said they were unfairly treated by Lamptey.

Reports said that Lamptey was punished by CAF but the African governing body denied making any decisions over the matter.

"Ahli filed a complaint against the referee but, contrary to the widespread reports, nothing has been decided yet," CAF's marketing director Amr Shahin told FilGoal.com on Thursday.

"There will be no decisions until the executive committee convenes next month to discuss the matter."

Local media launched a scathing attack on CAF for choosing Lamptey to officiate the second leg of the Champions League semi final, which took place at 7 November Stadium in Rades last Sunday.

Ahli coach Hossam Al-Badri and his Esperance counterpart Faouzi Benzarti also voiced concerns over the credentials of Lamptey before the game.

The Red Devils rejected calls from hardcore fans to abandon African competitions in protest at the treatment of CAF.

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