Beleaguered Ghanaian referee Joseph Lamptey has apparently been a target man for long, his 'wanted' status pretty accentuated in the aftermath of his recent life ban by Fifa.
The 43-year-old was, on Monday, handed an indefinite suspension from taking part in any kind of football-related activity at national and international level for "unlawfully influencing the match result" during the 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifier between South Africa and Senegal on November 12 last year.
The ban seemingly delights former Zamalek coach Ahmed Hossam ‘Mido’, whose side accused Lamptey of match manipulation following a controversial 1-0 loss to TP Mazembe in the Caf Champions League in 2014.
“I always refuse to blame referees for defeats but the referee’s performance was clear after the match [against Mazembe]," Mido told KingFut.
“African football will not move forward with referees like that.
“Egyptian official Yasser Abdel Raouf accused TP Mazembe of bribery in 2009 and we’re witnessing a repeat of that now.”
For Lamptey's latest crime, the Ghanaian awarded Bafana Bafana a penalty for a handball by Kalidou Koulibaly, but TV replays showed the ball struck the defender's legs.
Following an official complaint by Senegal, Lamptey was initially slapped with a three-month suspension by Caf, ruling him out of the recent Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon.
In 2011, Lamptey was handed a six-month Caf ban for allowing a controversial goal in a Champions League game between Esperance of Tunisia and Al Ahly of Egypt.
He was the fourth referee in Ghana's league derby between rivals Accra Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko, when central man Samuel Sukah awarded the former a controversial penalty, which decided the outcome of the Super Clash.
