FIFA have made it clear SAFA are not at fault after the world footballing body ordered Bafana Bafana and Senegal to replay a 2018 World Cup qualifier.
Bafana won the match 2-1 in Polokwane in November last year, but the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) afterwards reported referee Joseph Lamptey to FIFA for his decisions in the game, which included incorrectly awarding a penalty to the hosts.
Lamptey was subsequently handed a life-time ban for ‘match manipulation’, and FIFA yesterday announced the fixture must be replayed in November this year. SAFA indicated they would challenge the ruling.
FIFA’s Deputy Secretary General Zvonimir Boban has since penned a letter to SAFA’s CEO Dennis Mumble, which reads: ‘Further to yesterday’s communication of the decision passed by the Bureau for the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, whereby the match between South African and Senegal shall be replayed in November 2017, and following SAFA’s acknowledgement letter received last night, FIFA confirms unequivocally that the disciplinary proceedings were directed exclusively at the match referee, Mr Lamptey. We thus herewith confirm that neither SAFA noe the FSF are accused of any wrongdoing. FIFA will make reference to this fact on fifa.com.
‘Moreover, please be informed that we acknowledge SAFA’s claim for “cost relief” for the cancelled match of 12 November 2016, and we would kindly request that you provide details on any incurred expenses not offset against revenues obtained for such match for review.
‘We trust that this clarification is of assistance and we thank sincerely SAFA for its much appreciated cooperation and support in implementing the decision.’
