Ghanaian referee Lamptey banned for life from officiating

Ghanaian referee Joseph Odartei Lamptey has been slapped with a lifetime ban by FIFA due to match manipulation.

The 43-year-old was found guilty for awarding a controversial penalty to South Africa in their 2-1 win over Senegal in the 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifiers at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.

Senegal lodged an official complaint to CAF and Fifa and the immigration officer, who was named Ghana's best referee some time ago, was handed an initial three-month ban by CAF - but FIFA has banned him for life.

"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," a statement read.

"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," the statement added.

However, unlike Lamptey, assistant referee David Lionheart Nii Lartey Laryea, who was running the touchline when Lamptey made the 'unthinkable call' has been pardoned after investigations proved him innocent.

"On the other hand, all charges against the Ghanaian match official David Laryea, whose behaviour had also been the subject of investigations, were dismissed by the FIFA disciplinary committee.

“Further information concerning the South Africa vs Senegal match in question will be provided once the decision becomes final and binding," the statement concluded.

In 2011, Lamptey was handed a six-month ban by CAF when he awarded a dubious goal to Esperance de Tunis in a CAF Champions League game against Egyptian giants Al Ahli.

He was the fourth referee on Sunday at the Accra Sports Stadium when Hearts defeated Kotoko 1-0 in the Super Clash.