Janny Sikazwe, the official overseeing the Burkina Faso-Algeria match (3-2) on Saturday in Ouagadougou as part of the first leg play-offs of the 2014 World Cup, faced a challenging afternoon. Early in the match, he had to intervene to quell the enthusiasm of the 22 players involved in the intense game, which had experienced incidents between supporters before kickoff.
Despite the pressure, the Zambian referee, leading a trio from southern Africa, displayed a certain level of control throughout the match. However, his performance faced criticism when, in the 86th minute, he awarded a penalty to the Stallions, putting Burkina Faso in the lead. The Fennecs protested vehemently, arguing that Essaid Belkalem’s hand did not appear to be detached from his body.
The controversy extended beyond the field, with Algerian media questioning the referee’s impartiality even before the match. The website Le Buteur raised concerns about the referees’ interactions with Burkinabés the night before the game, suggesting a potential plot against Algeria.
After the match, the official Facebook page of the Algerian football team also criticized Janny Sikazwe: “The RED card of the evening to the Zambian referee Janny Sikazwe and his assistants, who distinguished themselves by their bad decisions and a penalty offered for the opposing team, which distorted the outcome of the match!”
Social media was abuzz with comments and interpretations of Sikazwe’s performance, with some users expressing dissatisfaction and calling for his removal. The controversy surrounding the referee’s decisions has sparked extensive discussions and debates online.
