SAFA's appeal for Ghana-Bafana Bafana rematch dismissed by FIFA

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – NOVEMBER 17: Safa CEO Tebogo Motlanthe during the SAFA press conference at SAFA House on November 17, 2021 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images)

BREAKING: SAFA’s RESPONSE! after FIFA dismisses Ghana-Bafana Bafana rematch appeal!

The South African Football Association (SAFA) have made issued a response upon finding out that they their appeal has been dismissed by FIFA.

SAFA's appeal for Ghana-Bafana Bafana rematch dismissed by FIFA

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – NOVEMBER 17: Safa CEO Tebogo Motlanthe during the SAFA press conference at SAFA House on November 17, 2021 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images)

The South African Football Association (SAFA) haS made issued a response upon finding out that they their appeal has been dismissed by FIFA.

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SAFA had lodged an appeal to FIFA following the dubious officiating Bafana Bafana experienced against Ghana. 

Ghana beat Bafana Bafana with a dubious penalty

Ghana beat Bafana Bafana courtesy of a converted penalty that was awarded in dubious circumstances in the Ghana Cape Coast. The penalty came from a Ghanaian corner which saw the ball finding its way all the way to Daniel Amartey in the Bafana Bafana box. With just the merest of touches on the shoulder from Mamelodi Sundowns defender Rushine de Reuck, the Leicester City utility player went down to the ground in the most theatrical fashion imaginable, with Ndiaye pointing to the spot immediately. 

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with Andre Ayew, who was earning his landmark 100th appearance for Ghana on the night, stepping up as the captain, slotting the spot kick away, and sending Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams the wrong way in the process. In the end that goal would prove to be the decisive one as it sent the home side to the play-off round of the World Cup Qualifiers and the visitors home.

SAFA appealed

SAFA CEO Teboho Motlanthe then vowed that they will fight the matter and seek the intervention of bothFIFAand CAF for this matter.  They then followed suit with with FIFA accepting that they had received SAFA’s official complaint, following an official press and public briefing held by the association. 

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After a few weeks of back and forth between SAFA and the GFA FIFA has since come back with the decision to dismiss the appeal and confirm the end of the road for Bafana Bafana’s World Cup hopes. 

FIFA official confirms dismissal

“The protest lodged by South Africa has been declared inadmissible by the Disciplinary Committee as it did not meet the requirements foreseen under art46 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and art. 14 of the Regulations of the Preliminary Competition of the FIFA World Cup 2022,”

“The decision is subject to appeal,” according to a FIFA official.

SAFA’s response

Now SAFA have issued their response to the statement through Motlanthe. 

“We have received the decision without details and we will request FIFA for the reason and consider our options,” said Motlanthe.