The voice of Ghanaian referee, Joseph Odartey Lamptey, who was principally instrumental to the replay of the world cup qualifier between South Africa and Senegal, is finally aired.
While South Africa and Senegal have accepted FIFA’s decision to replay, it is coming at an extra cost to FIFA who is now bank-rolling the replay. Other members of the group are also protesting against the replay order as they feel it will put their hopes and chances of qualification at risk.
Joseph Odartey Lamptey, though FIFA-banned has apologised for his poor officiating in the match.
His errors in the 2018 World Cup qualifier which was won 2-1 by South Africa last November led to FIFA banning for him life.
South Africa, who placed fourth on the Group D standings, are scheduled to host third-placed Senegal in a rematch in November, 2017.
Lamptey has stated that he was not trying to favour South Africa’s Bafana Bafana, who were the home side at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.
“I deeply love Senegal and I’m sorry. I can tell you that I felt deep pain after having done such an injustice against that country,” Lamptey told Senegal News Agency.
“I really love that country. My mistake [in the game] was never intentional. That can happen to you in your line of work as a journalist.
“Right or wrong? It is truly a human error but never did I want to do something against Senegal for anybody’s interest,” he continued.
“When I came back from the match in South Africa, my wife kept asking me what I had done to the Senegalese people.
“I told her so many times that it was a huge [human] error that I made against a country I adore.”
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