Tunisian referee; Slim Jdidi has been banned by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after his controversial performance in Wednesday’s semi-final between Burkina Faso and Ghana.
CAF Secretary General, Hicham el-Amrani said the continental body is not happy with the standard of refereeing in the match and Jdidi has been asked to step aside.
Among the contentious issues during Wednesday’s match was the red card given to Burkina Faso forward Jonathan Pitroipa that could mean he will miss Sunday’s final against Nigeria.
Jdidi also awarded a soft spot kick to Ghana in a display which threatened to overshadow an exciting encounter.
CAF has however admitted the appeal of the Burkinabe football federation for suspended striker Jonathan Pitroipa.
Pitroipa was sent off after receiving a second yellow card by Tunisia referee slim Jdidi for simulation, even though Ghana’s John Boye appeared to make contact with him.
CAF Secretary-General said the organising committee will study the match report sent in by the Tunisian official before taking any decision.
Already missing the injured Alain Traore for the first nation’s cup final in the stallions’ history, the absence of Pitroipa would be another major blow for the Burkinabes.
Pitroipa had appealed the decision saying the referee’s decision to send him off in the semi-final match at the nation’s cup was hard to take.
Burkina Faso leapt into the final of the tournament on yesterday following their nerve-racking win over Ghana at the Mbombela stadium in Nelspruit.
Posted by Channels Television on February 7, 2013.
