FIFA slaps Ghanaian ref with life ban for influencing World Cup qualifier

Ghanaian referee Joseph Lamptey may fancy printing up a few CVs after FIFA told the match official to take a hike Monday.

The world football governing body has banned Lamptey for life after determining he was guilty of influencing the result of a 2018 World Cup Group D qualifier between South Africa and Senegal in November 2016.

Lamptey incorrectly rewarded South Africa a penalty in Bafana Bafana's 2-1 victory over the Lions of Teranga when he deemed Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly responsible for a hand ball in the area, according to the Guardian.

One glance at the footage and it's clear there was something fishy about Lamptey's call:

South African skipper Thulani Hlatshwayo promptly buried the spot-kick minutes before Thulani Serrero bagged the eventual match-winner.

FIFA released a statement condemning Lamptey's actions.

The FIFA disciplinary committee has decided to ban the Ghanaian match official Joseph Odartei Lamptey from taking part in any kind of football-related activity (administrative, sports or any other) at national and international level for life.

The official was found guilty of breaching art. 69 par. 1 [unlawfully influencing match results] of the Fifa disciplinary code during the 2018 Fifa World Cup Russia qualifying match between South Africa and Senegal on 12 November 2016.

Further information concerning the South Africa v Senegal match in question will be provided once the decision becomes final and binding.

Fifa follows a zero-tolerance policy on match manipulation and is committed to protecting the integrity of football. As a result, Fifa will continue with its ongoing efforts to combat match manipulation through a variety of initiatives, which include the monitoring of international betting and a confidential reporting system with a dedicated integrity hotline and email address.

This isn't South Africa's first brush with the crooked side of football. In March 2016, three members of the South African Football Federation were banned by FIFA's ethics committee and security division for conduct surrounding international friendlies in 2010.

African World Cup qualifiers resume in the summer, with South Africa and Senegal sitting second and third in Group D on four and three points respectively, with Burkina Faso top of the table, level with Bafana Bafana on four points but ahead on goal differential.