CAN 2021: arbitration is already controversial

The referee of the Tunisia-Mali match whistled the end of the match before the end of regulation time. The Zambian JThis is not the first controversy for anny Sikazwe.

After the opening match, between Cameroon and Burkina Faso, during which a very high tackle by Steeve Yago had not been sanctioned with a red card, despite the possibility for video arbitration (VAR) to return to the action, it is the turn of another meeting to cause controversy.

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💥 It started strong between Cameroon and Burkina Faso!
🤔 Should this tackle have earned a red card? pic.twitter.com/NEpzIvD4mT

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Indeed, the match between Tunisia and Mali already does not stop talking. In particular because of the attitude of the referee of the match, Janny Sikazwe, accused of having favored the Eagles of Mali by not letting the match go to an end.

With seconds remaining in regulation time, Mr Sikazwe blew his whistle to signal the end of the game. Problem: the intervention of VAR during the second half and the six substitution sessions deserved at least three to five minutes of additional time.

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🇹🇳🇲🇱 End of controversial match between Tunisia and Mali!#TUNMLI pic.twitter.com/gAjE4iRvbz

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Faced with this injustice, the Tunisians strongly protested at the final three whistles. An incredible situation ensued: while the players were no longer on the lawn, the Malians returned to the center of the field, accompanied by… the fourth referee. Three minutes of additional time were then announced.

But neither Janny Sikazwe, the main referee, nor the Tunisians wanted to return to the pitch. Faced with this situation, the substitute referee therefore simply whistled the end of the match.

Janny Sikazwe, a regular in controversy

During the (almost) 90 minutes, Janny Sikazwe didn't seem in her game, repeatedly asking her assistant for water. He also expelled the Malian Touré, but the contested decision ultimately had to be confirmed by the VAR.

While arbitration continues to be debated within the governing bodies of African football, Janny Sikazwe is not his first controversy. In 2013, while refereeing the Burkina Faso-Algeria match, lost by Algeria 3 to 2, during the first leg of the 2014 World Cup, he whistled an imaginary penalty for Burkina Faso.

In 2018, the arbitrator was at the heart of an investigation into alleged corruption facts. The African Football Confederation (CAF) had suspended, as a precaution, Janny Sikazwe. In question, the semi-final return of the African Champions League 2018 between Esperance Sportif de Tunis (EST) and Primeiro de Agosto. Here again, the Zambian whistled for contentious actions and denied the Angolans a goal, which qualified the EST. The referee was finally cleared.