Libyan side attacks local referee

Kabelo Boranabi | Thursday September 19, 2024 09:16

Ketshabile was the whistle man in the first leg of the CAF Confederations Cup second preliminary round clash between Al Ahly Tripoli and Simba SC of Tanzania played on Sunday evening. The highly contested match played in Libya ended in a 0-0 draw ahead of the second leg to be played in Tanzania this Saturday. The home side immediately after the match rushed to social media platforms to throw a heavy jab at the Ketshabile. The Libyan side named the local referee ‘Man of the Match’ a recognition that is served for the best performing player in a single match. This is after, Ketshabile did not award the home team a penalty late in the tie.

The circulating video clips on social media show that Simba’s defender made a tackle on a Tripoli attacker and the latter fell down inside the penalty area. There were shouts for a penalty from the Tripoli players, technical bench and supporters inside the stadium but Ketshabile awarded the home side a corner kick. Tripoli players then swamped the local referee in protest. Upon the final whistle, Tripoli fans threw missiles aimed at Ketshabile and his refereeing team and also the visiting players. The referees needed a police escort from the stadium as the matter is said to have escalated outside the pitch as per unconfirmed reports. This is not first time where a local match official was subject to abuse on duty in the continental arena. Former top referee, Joshua Bondo, was in 2017 abused by Zambian fans after he ruled a Chipolopolo goal offside meaning thus denying Zambia a place at the AFCON 2018 finals. He was called an ‘evil man’ and a ‘toilet paper’ among other abusive slurs from the Chipolopolo fans base. Meanwhile, both the Botswana Football Association and continental governing body, CAF were yet to have a say on the Ketshabile incident by press time.