The refereeing decisions in the ongoing CAN 2013 have become a major talking point, with several incidents leading to controversy and debates. Some notable instances include:
- Ethiopia vs. Zambia (Group C):
- Ethiopian goalkeeper Jemal Tassew was red-carded for a foul on Zambian winger Chisamba Lungu outside the box. The Ethiopian coach, Sewnet Bishaw, argued that the red card was undeserved.
- Togo vs. Ivory Coast (Group D):
- Togo’s second goal, marked by Nitombé, was controversial, and coach Didier Six believed it should have been considered valid. The coach expressed dissatisfaction with the refereeing decisions, and Togolese striker Jonathan Ayité criticized the coach’s choices during a press conference.
- Algeria vs. Tunisia (Group D):
- Algeria’s coach, Vahid Halilhodzic, claimed his team was wronged by a penalty decision. He expressed disappointment with the referee’s call on the foul against Feghouli and suggested that it should have resulted in a red card and a penalty.
- Zambia vs. Nigeria (Group C):
- A penalty awarded to Zambia and converted by their goalkeeper allowed them to secure a draw against Nigeria. Nigerian captain Vincent Enyeama criticized the decision, calling it one of the worst in football history. Coach Stephen Keshi, while agreeing with his captain, took a more diplomatic stance.
The contentious refereeing decisions have raised concerns about the officiating standards in the tournament, leading to debates and discussions among teams and fans alike.
