The Confederation of African Football, CAF, said it has not suspended any referee, since the start of AFCON 2023.
However, the Confederation stated that it only released referees. According to the CAF, “after each stage of the competition, there’s a natural release of referees. These referees are NOT suspended”, the source noted.
The Source explained that what this means was that, referees were not suspended but simply released after that stage of the competition like every other stage.
"The release of referees after each stage of the tournament happens in every tournament in the world." He added.
According to the source, Referees from countries that go far in the competition are also released.
Recall that after "the Senegal versus Cote D’Ivoire in the round of 16, Gabonese referee Pierre Ghislain Atcho, came under serious criticisms from the Senegalese and information went viral on the social media that CAF has suspended him, an information which is not true. It should be noted that the CAF Referees Committee is led by Ivorian Désiré Doué Noumandiez." Report says.
"Since the start of the tournament in Cote D’Ivoire CAF has appreciated the level of refereeing."
Two days ago, after the round of 16 matches of the ongoing Total Energies Africa Cup of Nations, ongoing in Cote D’Ivoire, there were widespread information on the social media, indicating that some referees were suspended. But after investigations, kick442.com, it was discovered that the information was fake.
The fake news had it the CAF Referees Committee, headed by Ivorian Désiré Doué Noumandiez, suspended the Gabonese referee, Pierre Ghislain Atcho, from the ongoing CAF competition, following his poor officiating of the match between Senegal and Ivory Coast.
According to the reports, Noumandiez sanctioned Gabonese referee Pierre Ghislain Atcho, after the decision was implemented by the CAF Referees Committee.
It was falsely reported that during the Senegal verses Ivory Coast match, Pierre Ghislain awarded Sadio Mané a yellow card for a crucial foul which many believed should have been Red instead.
The referee also knocked out a potential Senegal penalty after a crucial Saar foul in the Ivorian 18.
"He will no longer take part in the #AFCON2023 tournament following the decision by the CAF Referees Committee." The alleged false report said.
Ghislain Atcho had served in these matches as VAR officials in Senegal and Cote d'Ivoire, VAR officials in Nigeria and Cameroon, and the 4th Referee in Egypt and DR Congo, matches.
Source: kick442.com,
