The Confederation of African Football (CAF) suspended Zambia’s Janny Sikazwe over allegations of biased officiating in a Champions League semi-final.
The match in question pitted Tunisian club Esperance against Primeiro Agosto of Angola. According to the report, Agosto believed the Tunisians may have given the 39-year-old referee a “token of appreciation”.
Agosto had won the first leg 1-0 in Luanda, but the return fixture in Tunis, which Sikazwe handled, ended 4-2 in favour of Esperance. Esperance later went on to win the CAF Champions League after beating Egyptian side Al Ahly.
A Zambia Football Association official was quoted saying the national body had already written to CAF and was waiting for a response.
The suspension marked a setback for Sikazwe, whose refereeing career had already drawn wide attention. He had officiated at four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and at the 2016 FIFA Club World Cup in Japan, where Real Madrid faced Kashima Antlers. That match also drew headlines after he did not send off Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos for a foul in the final.
Sikazwe also officiated at the 2018 Russia World Cup. Outside football, he is a teacher of mathematics and physical education, and the report said he had recently been promoted.
