Fifa have ordered the replay of a World Cup Qualifier between South Africa and Senegal.
The initial meeting between the African nations last November was mired in controversy after the match referee, Joseph Lamptey, was banned for life following an accusation of “match manipulation.”
Lamptey awarded a penalty to South Africa, who won the game 2-1, for a handball offence from Senegal’s Kalidou Koulibaly but replays clearly showed that the ball hit the defender’s knee.
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An investigation after the game resulted in a lifetime ban for the official and, on Wednesday, it was decided that it would be in the fairest interest to have Senegal and South Africa play a replay later this year.
The decision came after the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld the life ban for the Ghanaian referee.
A Fifa statement on the matter reads: “The Bureau for the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers ordered a replay of the qualification match between South Africa and Senegal held on 12 November 2016.
“This decision follows the confirmation of the Court of Arbitration for Sport [CAS] to uphold the lifetime ban of match referee, Joseph Lamptey, for match manipulation, the ruling imposed by the FIFA Disciplinary and Appeal Committees.
“The match will be replayed within the November 2017 international window, with the exact date to be confirmed in due course.”
