2022 World Cup Qualifiers: Safa to launch complaint over Ghana penalty - Motlanthe

Safa will launch an official complaint to Fifa and Caf over the conduct of referee Maguette Ndiaye, who officiated the World Cup qualifier on Sunday.

A penalty from Andre Ayew secured a place for Ghana in the play-offs after a tight contest at the Cape Coast Stadium on Sunday evening.

Safa CEO Tebogo Motlanthe confirmed that they will launch the complaint so that the football governing bodies can look into the official's conduct.

 

"The association has decided to launch a formal complaint so that the conduct of the match official is closely investigated by both Fifa and Caf," Motlanthe said in an audio posted on the Safa's social media platform.

Senegalese referee Ndiaye awarded the penalty to the hosts after Bafana Bafana's Rushine De Reuck was adjudged to have brought down Daniel Amartey.

Ghana proceeded to the playoffs - courtesy of scoring more goals in the qualifiers, after the two teams finished level on points and goal difference.

South Africa needed just a draw in order to progress but the Black Stars fought and emerged winners at a venue they are yet to lose a game at since 2009.

Complaint Supported by Evidence

The official claimed the game was decided by the referee and added that their complaint is supported by enough evidence.

"For us, the match officials have decided the game, which isn’t what is supposed to happen," Motlanthe added.

"As the association, we have decided we will be writing to both Caf and Fifa to investigate how the game was handled, and secondly, to challenge some of these decisions. We have already registered with the match commissioner that we will be writing a formal complaint.

"We are travelling today [Monday] of course, but we have ticked all our boxes and submitted our full complaint, which is supported by all the evidence, which was there, to say the game was either indeed manipulated or the referee has done something wrong before that game. 

"We are very disheartened by their actions, and we can't just leave it and let it destroy the players when we have the chance to challenge it. 

"We feel very much robbed because it is not an isolated incident of a penalty. There are just a lot of questionable decisions by match officials and of course, that is why we said we will get an expert to dissect other incidences so that we can make a strong case.

"We are looking at the precedent that Fifa set by ordering us to replay Senegal and we think if justice needs to be served, we feel a decision must be taken against this Ghana game."