Florent Ibenge Defends Refereeing Amid AFCON Controversy, While Claude Le Roy Voices Frustration
Despite ongoing controversy surrounding refereeing decisions at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, Democratic Republic of Congo coach Florent Ibenge has praised the overall standard of officiating during the tournament.
Speaking ahead of DR Congo’s semi-final clash against Ivory Coast in Bata on Wednesday, Ibenge described the refereeing as “pretty good,” downplaying complaints that have erupted following a contentious penalty awarded by Mauritian referee Seechurn Rajindrapsarad to Equatorial Guinea in their match against Tunisia last Saturday.
“There haven’t been many complaints about the refereeing,” Ibenge said. “It can’t be perfect, referees are human after all, but overall, the refereeing has been pretty good. Recently in the African Champions League, I discovered you can be offside in your own half at least ten times. So on Saturday, it was a piece of cake.”
His measured comments come as the tournament faces scrutiny over officiating consistency, with fans and pundits debating the impact of key decisions on results.
Meanwhile, Claude Le Roy — recently resigned as Congo’s head coach following their quarter-final exit — expressed his own frustrations about refereeing during Congo’s derby against DR Congo.
“I asked for a change but the assistant referee took his time and we conceded the equalizer behind. These are small details but very important in football, and that’s it,” Le Roy lamented.
The contrasting views highlight the ongoing debate over refereeing quality in African football’s flagship tournament, underscoring how crucial officiating decisions can be in tight contests.
As the AFCON progresses towards its climax, the spotlight will remain on referees to deliver fairness and consistency on the biggest stage.
