FIFA slaps life-ban to Ghanaian referee for 'manipulating' WC qualifier

FIFA has handed over a life-ban to Ghanaian match official Joseph Odartei Lamptey after finding him guilty of manipulation of a World Cup qualifier.

The ban results from a penalty Lamptey awarded to South Africa in a 2-1 win over Senegal in a 2018 World Cup qualifier in November.

Issuing a press release, FIFA said, "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."

However, charges against a second Ghanaian match official, David Lionheart Nii Lartey Laryea, were dropped following an investigation.

"On the other hand, all charges against the Ghanaian match official David Lionheart Nii Lartey Laryea, whose behaviour had also been the subject of investigations, were dismissed by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee," the sports' governing body said.