Following the fiasco of Algeria, eliminated in the first round of CAN 2023, the coach of the Fennecs, Djamel Belmadi, made new accusations relating to arbitration, but not only…
While a penalty was possibly forgotten in the 75th minute on a belting by Islam Slimani in the opposing area, the technician insinuated that the pressure exerted by Ahmed Ould Yahya, president of the Federation Mauritanian of football (FFRIM) and 2nd vice-president of the African Football Confederation (CAF), of which he is an influential member, weighed in the balance. The leader was present in the VIP stands of the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké and he would have gone down to the edge of the pitch to put pressure on the referees on several occasions.
« It is certain that on our side, VAR did not work. This is an observation. This perhaps does not explain everything, but… (…) Now if you want to be blind… I, on the other hand, saw something on the ground”Belmadi said, before detailing his accusations.
“Where have we seen, in world football, a leader come down and speak with the referees?
« The line belongs to the referees, the 4th referee and the coaches. When I see the president of the federation who comes throughout the match to harangue the referee and I explain to everyone ‘do you realize what he is doing?’ and everyone dodges me and pretends not to understand one after the other… I explained that to everyone: on the pitch, outside, on the way home, behind the scenes. Where have we seen, in world football, a manager come down and speak with the touchline referees? And they act as if nothing happened. This is unbearable, what do you want me to tell you? », asserted the winner of CAN 2019. After such accusations, it is difficult to imagine that the FFRIM and the CAF will remain silent.
