Joseph Ogabor
Nigerian referee, Joseph Ogabor, has been banned from all football activities for one year for attempted match manipulation.
The incident relates to the CAF Confederation Cup match between Nigerian team Plateau United and Algerian side USM Alger in Lagos earlier this month.
South African match officials, led by referee Victor Gomes, reported that they had been offered $30 000 in cash to fix the first leg. Gomes turned down the offer and immediately reported it to CAF.
The governing body has handed down judgement, though the South African Football Association has also been ordered to issue an apology to their Nigerian counterparts.
A statement read that the CAF Referees Committee “has confirmed the recommendation of the CAF Disciplinary Board to ban Nigeria referee Joseph Ogabor from any official mission for one year for attempted match manipulation”.
“The decision follows investigations conducted and evidence submitted by the South African match officials of the said match, who were contacted by Ogabor to provide “technical assistance” to the Nigerian team.
“In a related development, the South African Football Association have been ordered to render an apology to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) after investigations proved that there was no evidence of whatsoever of any official of the NFF regarding an allegation of $30 000 bribe.”
Plateau won the match in question 2-1, but USM Alger hammered the Nigerians 4-0 in the return leg.