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In the Christian holy book, The Bible, the wages of sin is clearly said to be death. But what is the
Consequence for a referee who inexplicably ruins a crucial match by awarding a penalty for an imaginary offence? For Egyptian referee Grisha Ghead the outcome is expulsion from the 2013 AFCON in South Africa.
“Egyptian referee Grisha Ghead, who officiated the controversial second Group C match between defending champions Zambia and Nigeria on Friday, may be dismissed from the Africa Nations Cup by the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) as a result of poor officiating,” according to Goal.com.
Ghead had given Zambia a controversial penalty late in the game which ensured that the match ended 1-1. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) lodged a complaint with CAF after the match.
Goal.com quotes CAF president Issa Hayatou as having assured Nigeria’s Minister of Sports Bolaji Abdullahi “that prompt action has been taken against the referee and that the official will be sent home.”
CAF is yet to react officially.
The last Group C matches are now expected to generate great concern to CAF as they have prepared to monitor the two matches alongside the other groups to forestall a repeat of such scandalous mistakes and biases as alleged by the NFF.
•Photo: Fumbling ref Ghead in the match he ruined . . . on Friday.