AFCON 2015: Tunisia Coach Georges Leekens Slams Refereeing After Quarter-Final Exit
Tunisia head coach Georges Leekens has launched a scathing attack on the officiating following his side’s dramatic 2-1 extra-time loss to host nation Equatorial Guinea in the quarter-finals of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Bata.
Clearly enraged by the controversial penalty awarded in stoppage time, which allowed Equatorial Guinea to level the match and force extra time, Leekens did not hold back:
“If he sees the footage of the penalty, I think he’ll regret it,” Leekens said during the post-match press conference. “The result is forced. They are at home… I hoped the referee would be up to standard. He wasn’t. It’s simple. It’s a shame. We are very unhappy. Tunisia does not deserve this. It’s an injustice.”
Leekens, who has managed teams across Europe and North Africa for over three decades, went on to criticize broader issues he perceived with officiating throughout the tournament:
“I have to protect my players and football. I’ve worked abroad for years, and I’ve never seen this. The penalty was unacceptable. Everyone laughed. I couldn’t believe my eyes.”
“We’ve not been treated properly these two weeks — not just in this match. Two penalties against us, and two we didn’t get. Once, okay. Twice, okay. Three times is difficult. Four times? Too much!”
The Belgian tactician made it clear that his comments were not a criticism of Equatorial Guinea, but of the officiating standards and treatment of his team in the competition.
The match was marred by the highly debatable penalty awarded by Mauritian referee Seechurn Rajindraparsad, which led to widespread condemnation and fueled accusations of favoritism, particularly due to Equatorial Guinea stepping in as last-minute hosts.
