Arbitrator at the center of CAN chaos was suspended over corruption allegations in 2018

REVEALED: Janny Sikazwe, the referee at the center of CAN chaos with Mali and Tunisia after blowing full time five minutes earlier, was suspended over corruption allegations in 2018

  • Janny Sikazwe blasted for full time in Mali’s 85th minute against Tunisia
  • The game was restarted and Sikazwe rejected a VAR review with a red card
  • In November 2018, Sikazwe was suspended for allegations of corruption in a match.
  • Two months later, in January 2019, FIFA lifted the suspension against him











The referee at the center of the chaos during the Africa Cup of Nations match between Mali and Tunisia has been suspended over corruption allegations in 2018.

Janny Sikazwe blew for the final whistle in the 85th minute of the game between the two teams before resuming play, dismissing a VAR review with a red card, then ending the game 20 seconds earlier.

He had to be escorted off the pitch after the game was over. Mali won the game 1-0 thanks to a penalty from Ibrahima Kone but Tunisia were livid, especially since Mali was 10 behind.

Janny Sikazwe sparked controversy by blowing full-time five minutes earlier in the Africa Cup of Nations match between Mali and Tunisia

Tunisia were furious at the scenes unfolding in front of them as they continued to equalize against Mali

Tunisia were furious at the scenes unfolding in front of them as they continued to equalize against Mali

But four years ago, CAF suspended Sikazwe on suspicion of corruption after the way he handled an African Champions League match between Esperance and Primiero Agosto.

Esperance beat Rades 4-2, but Sikazwe awarded them a controversial penalty for their first goal, before ruling out a goal from Agosto for a perceived foul on the Esperance goalkeeper.

The decision of the CAF Disciplinary Board at the time stated: “The Chairman of the CAF Disciplinary Council decides that there are good reasons to hold a hearing into the corruption allegations made against Mr. Janny Sikazwe.

Sikazwe and his group of officials had to be escorted off the pitch by security

Sikazwe and his group of officials had to be escorted off the pitch by security

“Mr. Janny Sikazwe is provisionally suspended from all Caf-related football activities pending a hearing before the Caf Disciplinary Board.”

The suspension was put in place in November 2018 but lifted by FIFA in January 2019.

He officiated two matches at the 2018 World Cup – Belgium against Panama and Japan against Poland.

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