Durban - A match official who was due to be involved in Bafana Bafana's AFCON qualifier against Sudan has appeared in a Durban court on charges of sexual assault on Wednesday.
The City Press website reports that the Algerian national attempted to rape a cleaner in the Durban hotel he was staying at on the morning of Bafana's 2-1 win over Sudan at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
The 33-year-old official did not plea and has had his bail extended until he is scheduled to appear in court again on Monday.
He is one of four Algerians who were issued by the country's national football association to officiate the match.
It is alleged that he asked to pay one of the female cleaners for sex, but had his request turned down after which it is further alleged that he then tried to rape her.
However, another female cleaner at the Suncoast Towers hotel was alerted to the alleged victim's call for help and intervened, contacting the hotel's security services and having him detained, resulting in the man not being able to fulfill his refereeing commitments later that day.
He was eventually replaced by Lalelani Mngadi, who acted as the fourth official of the match after SAFA made the necessary arrangements.
The official has since returned to the Algerian Embassy in Pretoria.
The City Press website reports that the Algerian national attempted to rape a cleaner in the Durban hotel he was staying at on the morning of Bafana's 2-1 win over Sudan at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
The 33-year-old official did not plea and has had his bail extended until he is scheduled to appear in court again on Monday.
He is one of four Algerians who were issued by the country's national football association to officiate the match.
It is alleged that he asked to pay one of the female cleaners for sex, but had his request turned down after which it is further alleged that he then tried to rape her.
However, another female cleaner at the Suncoast Towers hotel was alerted to the alleged victim's call for help and intervened, contacting the hotel's security services and having him detained, resulting in the man not being able to fulfill his refereeing commitments later that day.
He was eventually replaced by Lalelani Mngadi, who acted as the fourth official of the match after SAFA made the necessary arrangements.
The official has since returned to the Algerian Embassy in Pretoria.