Moroccan referee Redouane Jiyed has stirred controversy within the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Referees Committee by abruptly declining to officiate the match between South Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which would determine the third-place winner in the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Côte d’Ivoire.
Initially selected by the CAF Referees Committee to oversee the encounter, Redouane Jiyed declined the opportunity to officiate the South Africa versus Democratic Republic of the Congo match scheduled for this Saturday evening.
Consequently, CAF officials appointed Ethiopian referee Bamlak Tessema to replace him.
While CAF issued an official statement citing health reasons for Jiyed’s withdrawal, Moroccan media reports revealed that the referee declined the match assignment, expressing his aspiration to officiate the tournament’s final match.
According to Moroccan media outlets, 44-year-old Redouane Jiyed, who is nearing retirement, felt marginalized by the CAF Referees Committee, which omitted him from the on-field referees for the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Qatar, relegating him instead to Video Assistant Referee (VAR) duties.
Additionally, he was denied the opportunity to officiate the final matches of the African Champions League.
Reports suggest that Jiyed’s dissatisfaction stemmed from his belief that he was unfairly treated by the CAF Referees Committee, leading to his refusal to officiate the South Africa versus Democratic Republic of the Congo match.
It’s worth noting that the CAF Referees Committee has appointed young Mauritanian referee Daheen Bideh, aged 32, to officiate the final match of the 34th edition of the African Cup of Nations, which will take place tomorrow, Sunday, between the host nation Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria.
