The incident, which has cast a dark shadow over football in the region, occurred after the match concluded with a penalty shootout, resulting in the defeat of one of the teams. In a shocking act of violence, a disgruntled fan attacked the referee, delivering a fatal blow to his head.
CAF issued an official statement expressing its deep condemnation of the assault and urged the Congolese Football Federation to take stringent actions against those responsible.
“CAF strongly condemns the assault on the match official and calls on the Congolese Football Federation to implement strict measures in accordance with regulations to prevent such incidents in the future and ensure the safety of referees during football matches,” the statement read.
The attacked referee sustained severe head injuries and was immediately rushed to the hospital, where he was placed under close observation. Despite the medical efforts, he passed away due to the extent of his injuries.
Tristes imágenes desde el Congo. Tras la derrota en semifinales del OC Renaissance, el colegiado fue brutalmente agredido. Mientras los médicos lo atendían inconsciente, los jugadores del Tanganiyika celebraban a su lado. El árbitro dicen que muertopic.twitter.com/YgadEbu3so
— Manu Heredia (@ManuHeredia21) June 9, 2024
