Anas’ Number 12: CAF bans referee for life, 10 others get years ban

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has taken disciplinary action against 11 officials implicated in the Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ documentary which exposed corruption in football administration in Africa.

The decision was taken after the Disciplinary Board of CAF held a meeting on 7th July 2018 on referees who were captured in the secretly recorded video taking bribes before officiating various games.

Kenyan Assistant Referee Mr. Marwa Range was handed a life ban from all CAF related football activities.

Others were banned for years ranging from 2 to 10, a press release issued by CAF on Saturday announced.

Mr. Yanissou Bebou, Referee from Togo and Mr. Jallow Ebrima, Assistant Referee from Gambia have been suspended for 10 years from all CAF related football activities.

An Ivorian referee Mr. Denis Dembele was also banned for 6 years from all CAF related football activities.

Those banned for five years are: Mr. Boukari Ouedraogo, Referee, Burkina Faso; Mr. Moriba Diakite, Assistant Referee, Mali; Mr. Demba Boubou, Assistant Referee, Mauritania; and Mr. Maman Raja Abba Malan Ousseini, Assistant Referee, Niger.

Two Assistant Referees Mr. Marius Tan and Mr. Bi Valere Gouho as well as Mr. Coulibay Abou, a Referee, all from Cote d’Ivoire were banned for two years.

However, the statement said three Ghanaians implicated in the documentary video dubbed ‘Number 12’, Mr. Lathbridge Reginald, Referee; Mr. Bello Aboudou, Referee; and Mr. Nantierre Eric, Assistant Referee were provisionally suspended pending their appearance before the Disciplinary Board on 5th August 2018.

Former Ghana Football Association President, Mr. Kwesi Nyantakyi was compelled to resign as the First Vice President of CAF in June following the public screening of the investigative video which implicated him.

He is currently in court seeking damages against journalist Anas Aremeyaw and his Tiger Eye PI firm for defamation.

Meanwhile, Mr. Nyantakyi is being investigated by the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service for using Ghana’s president and his officials name to allegedly defraud an investor.