FIFA order South Africa and Senegal 2018 World Cup qualifier replay

FIFA has confirmed a World Cup qualifier between South Africa and Senegal will be replayed after the referee was banned for life following the tie.

The encounter last November saw referee Joseph Lamptey award 2-1 winners South Africa a penalty in a move FIFA ruled amounted to "match manipulation," later resulting in the lifetime ban for the Ghanaian.

The penalty was awarded when Lamptey penalised Senegal's Kalidou Koulibaly for handball, but replays showed the ball clearly struck the Napoli defender's knee.

A statement from football's world governing body read: "The Bureau for the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers ordered a replay of the qualification match between South Africa and Senegal held on 12 November 2016.

"This decision follows the confirmation of the Court of Arbitration for Sport [CAS] to uphold the lifetime ban of match referee, Joseph Lamptey, for match manipulation, the ruling imposed by the FIFA Disciplinary and Appeal Committees.

"The match will be replayed within the November 2017 international window, with the exact date to be confirmed in due course.

As stated in the FIFA World Cup regulations, this decision shall come into effect immediately but shall be subject to confirmation by the Organising Committee for FIFA Competitions at its next meeting, scheduled for September 14.


Read  Fifa statement on ban 
 

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has decided to ban the Ghanaian match official Joseph Odartei Lamptey from taking part in any kind of football-related activity (administrative, sports or any other) at national and international level for life.  

The official was found guilty of breaching art. 69 par. 1 (unlawfully influencing match results) of the FIFA Disciplinary Code during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ qualifying match between South Africa and Senegal on 12 November 2016. 

On the other hand, all charges against the Ghanaian match official David Lionheart Nii Lartey Laryea, whose behaviour had also been the subject of investigations, were dismissed by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee. 

Further information concerning the South Africa v. Senegal match in question will be provided once the decision becomes final and binding. 

FIFA follows a zero-tolerance policy on match manipulation and is committed to protecting the integrity of football. As a result, FIFA will continue with its ongoing efforts to combat match manipulation through a variety of initiatives, which include the monitoring of international betting and a confidential reporting system with a dedicated integrity hotline and e-mail address.