World Cup Row - Ghana v South Africa

[Cardiffdaffs]

Anybody following this growing dispute Ghana snd SA after their controversial qualifier in which Ghana won with a disputed penalty. Story here on SA's demand for a replay.

South Africa demand replay v Ghana as controversial penalty ends World Cup dream

South Africa demand replay v Ghana as controversial penalty ends World Cup dream

www.givemesport.com

Well it has now escalated to full appeal to FIFA and this is Ghana's frank rebuttal.

Press Statement on Ghana vs. South Africa FIFA World Cup qualifier: GFA’s reaction to allegations by SAFA

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has closely monitored developments in South Africa, both by the Football Association and the media after the FIFA World Cup...

www.ghanafa.org

 

[Grrreds]

Surely this will be thrown out immediately unless it can be proven the referee was corrupt in some way otherwise a dangerous precedent for replaying games will be set.

 

[norfolkngood]

The precedent was set 3 years ago when they made South Africa replay a match against Senegal which had been decided by a similar penalty. On that occasion the referee was from Ghana.
Interestingly in this match v Ghana the referee was from ............................... Senegal!

 

[Zoophonic]

Is getting pretty heated judging by the Ghanaian official response. I dont know how they can appeal unless they have evidence that the Senegalese referee was corrupt. Amartey does take a theatrical tumble for seemingly nothing.

 

[ThePrisoner]

I've seen worse decisions. Not many mind

 

[Cambsred]

The precedent was set 3 years ago when they made South Africa replay a match against Senegal which had been decided by a similar penalty. On that occasion the referee was from Ghana.
Interestingly in this match v Ghana the referee was from ............................... Senegal!

Wasnt that due to evidence of match fixing specifically. Have to find some evidence first here.

 

[TeaCider]

It doesn't paint a great picture of African football, whether they're right or wrong.

That very clearly wasn't a penalty, so I can understand why South Africa are outraged, but it's depressing that there's an acceptance that referees are corrupt in CAF.

Northern Ireland missed out on the 2018 World Cup because of an incorrectly given penalty against Switzerland, the referee outright admitted afterwards that he'd made a mistake in giving it, but FIFA saw it as human error rather than corruption and the result stood.

It's not that South Africa are appealing that I find strange, it's the fact that there's so little integrity in CAF that they'll actually replay the match because of a wrong decision from the referee because the assumption is he was bribed, and I presume this match will end up being replayed as well.

 

[Frozen Horse]

I seem to recall France qualifying at the expense of Ireland when Thierry Henry clearly handled the ball in the build up to the decisive goal.

That was clearer than this penalty decision and all complaints were thrown out. I expect this to be as well.

Aggrieved as South Africa may feel, changing a result after the final whistle will kill the game.