The Ghana Football Association’s General Secretary Lawyer Prosper Harrison Addo has hit out at SAFA after FIFA rejected their appeal. Photo: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
SAFA president flags ‘match manipulation’ – WATCH
SAFA president Danny Jordaan says FIFA must protect the ‘integrity’ of the game by investigating alleged referee bias picked up in the Bafana Bafana-Ghana match.
The Ghana Football Association’s General Secretary Lawyer Prosper Harrison Addo has hit out at SAFA after FIFA rejected their appeal. Photo: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
Following Bafana Bafana’s controversial defeat in their final 2022 Soccer World Cup qualifier against Ghana, SAFA has lodged a formal complaint, while asking for alleged referee bias and match manipulation to be investigated by FIFA.
Senegal referee Maguette N’Diaye is at the centre of the controversy following his inept performance with the whistle. N’Diaye made a series of baffling decisions during the Group G clash in Ghana, but none proved more costly than the one to award the Black Stars an ultimately match-winning penalty.
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Needing only to avoid defeat to advance to the next round of World Cup qualifying, Bafana Bafana were sunk by a 33rd-minute penalty by Ghana skipper Andre Ayew.
Ndiaye spotted a foul by Rushine De Reuck in the box that no one else in the ground – or watching around the world – did.
It led to Hugo Broos’ first defeat in charge of Bafana Bafana and yet another failed campaign to qualify for a World Cup.
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At a press briefing on Wednesday, SAFA president Danny Jordaan highlighted concerns over betting on the game, revealing that they want FIFA to investigate if there were betting spikes before the penalty was given.
“Immediately after the match, there was an outpouring of emotions in our country. I phoned the CEO who was with the match officials and I asked him to inform them that we are going to challenge the outcome of the match,” Jordaan stated.
“We are concerned with certain decisions in the match, so we are asking for an investigation into match-manipulation of the match.
“Of course we have to say what is match-manipulation? So we asked (former professional referee) Ace Ngcobo to analyse it and to see if there is a pattern that may have had an influence on the final outcome of the match. We’ve received a report and he must’ve watched for 10-11 hours.
“We are here to inform the nation about the events that happened at Cape Coast that shocked us. FIFA has the responsibility to uphold the integrity of global football.
“In February 2020, FIFA appointed a company called Sports Radar to monitor each and every match to monitor the integrity of the competition. Our responsibility of SAFA is to prove whether there is any bias against our team, and if so, report it to FIFA.
“Match-manipulation of a match is when there is unlawful influence or unlawful directive of the of match or unlawful influence on the outcome of the match.
“It can be manipulated for financial gain or for sporting gain. Was there a conspiracy to win the match or to favour one team in the match? Was there a deliberate action of the referee in the match? We asked Mr. Ace Ngcobo to see whether, in his view, there was a deliberate or wrong guiding of the match by the referee.
“Did the referee deliberately give a red card, give a yellow card, give a penalty, or anything that is not in line with the law of the game? It would be a deliberate neglecting of his duty to take action in the match. Did he deliberately not take decisions in the match, with the intention to influence the outcome of the match.
“Did the referee fail to award a free-kit, a yellow card, a red card, a penalty? Did he deliberately neglect the rules of the game? We asked Mr. Ace Ngcobo to confirm whether there was a bias against Bafana that influences the outcome.”
Jordaan further highlighted concerns over betting on the game, revealing that they want FIFA to investigate if there were betting spikes before the penalty was given.
“Was there betting on the match? Yes, there was betting on the match. According to the bookmakers, there was a mistake in the favourite and it is a fact that there was betting on the match,” he added.
“What we want is for FIFA to analyse the influence on the match. Was there information on the penalty, then there was a betting spike on the decision that was going to happen.
“We don’t have the capacity to do that and we’ve asked FIFA to look into it.
“The last issue is, was the profile of the match such, that there was interest outside of football and yes, there was. If Ghana loses, there were major problems even for the president of the country.
“There was another message that said there would be penalties in the match, if not two but one. So we are asking FIFA again to look into these things and apply their mind, whether all these things were normal.
“It was a very important match, a decisive match. Anything but a win for Ghana would mean they are out. That’s why we asked FIFA to look into these things and analyse what really happened.
“We have to respect the laws of the game and protect the integrity of the game.”
Below you can watch a segment of the explosive press conference as Jordaan highlighted why SAFA was going on the offensive.
