Yanga Pens Letter To CAF Alleging Refereeing Error and Match Fixing
Young Africans have issued a formal letter of complaint to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), raising concerns about referring errors and potential match-fixing in their CAF Champions League quarterfinal match-up with Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Stadium on Friday.
These startling developments come after Yanga coach, Manuel Gamondi, lambasted the referee and the entire VAR team, saying they were “robbed” due to the ruling out of their wonder strike by Stephane Aziz Ki which potentially could have sent them to their first Champions League semi-final.
The letter, addressed to the highest echelons of African football, underscores the coach’s belief that crucial refereeing decisions were erroneous, ultimately affecting the outcome of the games.
The club contends that these decisions not only had a significant impact on match results but also raised suspicions of foul play.
“During the match, in the 57th minute, Young African’s sports Club player Aziz Ki stephane scored a clear goal which was denied by the entire team of referees led by Mr. Dahane Beida from Mauritania,” said the club in the letter.
“Despite the availability of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology, Mr. Beida and his team intentionally neglected to review the goal incident through VAR, thereby disregarding the principles of fair play and justice in football,” explained the letter.
The letter also emphasized coach Gamondi’s concerns over the inconsistency in the referee’s decision to check the VAR monitor before making match-deciding decisions.
“We allege that the above actions by the referee team indicate deliberate attempts to influence the match in favour of Mamelodi Sundowns, consulting a serious case of match-fixing. This is further supported by the selective use of VAR, primarily focusing on fouls committed by Young Africans Sports Club for potential red cards, while ignoring legitimate goal-scoring opportunity,” lamented the club.
Furthermore, the letter does not shy away from addressing the elephant in the room – the spectre of match-fixing. Yanga voiced concerns suggesting the possibility of orchestrated manipulation to influence results. The club emphasized the need for a thorough investigation to uphold the sport’s integrity and ensure fair play for all stakeholders.
“We request a thorough investigation into this matter by the Confederation of African Football to uncover any evidence of administrative error or match-fixing. Such actions are detrimental to the spirit of the game and must be addressed promptly to maintain the credibility of football competitions under CAF,” advised the letter.
CAF has yet to issue a statement acknowledging receipt of the letter and affirmation of its commitment to investigating the matter.