Share

Calls for Hayatou to resign

Johannesburg - Senegal’s Prime Minister Souleymane Ndéné Ndiaye has called for the resignation of CAF boss Issa Hayatou following a “scandalous performance” of the presiding referee for the Cameroon-Senegal 2012 Afcon fourth-round qualifying clash that ended goalless in Yaoundé on Saturday.

Hayatou is a Cameroonian but is not directly involved in the designation of match officials, a source at the CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, told SuperSports.com on Monday.

Angolan-born referee Martins de Carvalho Helder came under fire in Dakar immediately after the face-off for booking four Senegal players and expelling two others, Issiar Dia and Lamine Sané.

The Teranga Lions coach, Amara Traore, was also sent off for contesting the referee’s decisions, while a late penalty was awarded to the home side but was fluffed by team skipper Samuel Eto’o.

Ndiaye judged the referee’s actions as a “distant complicity” with CAF, according to the Senegal Press Agency, APS. “Hayatou no longer deserves to run African football. He silently watched while Carvalho Helder gave a negative image of African refereeing,” Ndiaye said.

He further urged Senegal FA president Augustin Senghor to take the necessary actions in contesting the legitimacy of Hayatou at the helm of the African football governing body and to press for sanctions against the Angolan referee.

Carvalho Helder was dropped during the 2010 African Cup of Nations after being given a poor evaluation by assessors following his performance during the Group C second match between Nigeria and Benin. However, coach Amara played down the incidents and urged all to look forward.

“The referee is a human being and can make mistakes. The most important thing is that we picked one point from Cameroon and we are looking forward to our qualification for the 2012 showpiece. That’s all,” Amara said at a press conference in Dakar on Monday.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
26% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1470 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2249 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE