CAF has slapped four local referees with bans that range from three to six months for ‘inaccurate reporting’ in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2024 qualifier match played last month.
One official is the country’s celebrated referee, Joshua Bondo, who was the referee in the clash between Benin and Rwanda. He has been given a six months ban. Others are Mogomotsi Morakile, Kitso Sibanda and Tshepo Gobagoba who have been slapped with three months bans. CAF said in a statement that officials failed to follow up on inaccurate reporting on CMS in the AFCON match 84. “The CAF Referees Committee met online on Friday 31 March to review the performances of its match officials in the last round of Total Energies Africa Cup of Nations Cote d'Ivoire 2024 qualification matches,” a press statement from the association stated.
“It was decided that the above officials failed to follow up on inaccurate reporting on CMS in the AFCON match 84: Benin vs Rwanda played in Benin on the 22nd of March 2023.” The statement added that CAF views this unacceptable oversight by match officials as a serious offence and their suspension is effective April 10. Following the CAF decision, the local football body Botswana Football Association (BFA) also imposed its sanctions. “As a result of this sanction by CAF, the BFA upholds the spirit of ethics and integrity in football, has decided to suspend forthwith the concerned referees from domestic match scheduling until further notice. In the meantime, internal disciplinary investigations will commence,” the BFA said in a statement today.
