The recent clash between Algeria and Burkina Faso in the ongoing AFCON 2023 tournament has sparked controversy over refereeing decisions, prompting the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) and the Tunisian Football Federation (FTF) to refer the matters to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for arbitration.
In a post-match press conference following the 2-2 draw between Algeria and Burkina Faso, Algeria’s national coach, Djamel Belmadi, expressed measured dissatisfaction with the officiating.
Belmadi specifically pointed out an apparent handball situation that went unpenalized.
The FAF, echoing Belmadi’s concerns, lodged an official complaint against the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) referee, Atcho Pierre Ghislain from Gabon.
The FAF substantiated its complaint with photos and videos illustrating what it deemed obvious penalty situations overlooked by the VAR.
Similarly, Tunisia has decided to file a complaint with CAF after their match against Mali ended in a 1-1 draw.
The Tunisian Football Federation alleges that the referee, Daniel Nii Laryea from Ghana, failed to call a penalty that could have tilted the match in favor of the Eagles of Carthage.
The incident in question involved a foul on Youssef Msakni within the Malian penalty area.
Houcine Jenayah, a member of the FTF’s Executive Committee, expressed dismay over the referee’s decision, questioning why no slow-motion footage was suggested during the review process.
Both the Algerian and Tunisian cases have been formally submitted to the CAF Refereeing Commission, raising anticipation regarding the potential measures that may be taken to address these controversies.
As the AFCON 2023 unfolds, the credibility of the tournament hinges on the response of the referees’ governing body.
The footballing community eagerly awaits CAF’s adjudication, hoping for a resolution that upholds the integrity of the competition.
