Five AFCON Referees Dropped from 2026 World Cup
Five referees have been excluded from officiating at the 2026 World Cup following their controversial performances during the AFCON 2025 tournament. Notably, Senegalese referee Ismaila Sarr officiated four matches, including the final, where he disallowed a goal by Senegal's player Sarr, preventing a VAR intervention.
His decisions led to a controversial penalty awarded to Morocco and a subsequent walk-off by Senegal's team, damaging the tournament's reputation. Additionally, referee Calvin Bassei faced criticism for not consulting VAR and failing to award a penalty to Algeria.
The performance of Malian referee Traor was also scrutinized after he did not award a clear penalty in a match against Tanzania. The referees' poor officiating has resulted in their exclusion from future high-profile matches, including the World Cup, marking a significant setback in their careers.
Plus234Feed summary based on reporting from Daily Trust. Read the original report below.
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