By Satish Sekar in Douala © Satish Sekar (February 1^st 2022)

The Final Straw And I Don’t Mean My Lesotho Hat!

I have attended many events in Africa. I have been extremely supportive over many years. There were many occasions when I could have written deeply critical articles – others would have. I have stilled my keyboard until now.

This morning CAF’s Communications Director, a clear misnomer if ever one existed, Lux September, went too far. I was already annoyed with him as he had asked me if I would ask male referees to explain their decisions. I told him yes. He asked again and repeats it ignoring the answer, which was ‘yes,’. In fact, the previous query addressed to him asked questions over decisions in the Ghana v Gabon match – a match where I pointed out that the only way to get Gabon’s goal disallowed was through VAR of the goal and the events leading up to it.

Remind us Lux, what gender was Lahlou Benbraham, the referee in that match?

The Crux of the Matter

It all centred on the major talking point in the match refereed by Rwandan official Salima Mukasanga, the first female referee to officiate at an Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Finals match. Guinea’s captain Naby Keïta scored a magnificent goal to halve the deficit against Zimbabwe. The Warriors went on to win 2-1.

However, he objected to time-wasting by Zimbabwe’s goalkeeper Talmert Shumba, allegedly wanting a yellow card for Zimbabwe’s keeper, which would have seen the Warriors’ shot stopper sent off for a second yellow card.

As the captain Keïta is entitled to talk to the referee and ask for the time allegedly wasted to be added. He is not, however, entitled to employ the unsporting conduct of demanding a caution or asking for one – that is the referee’s job – especially knowing that it would have seen the keeper sent off. Several people (almost exclusively men) criticised Mukasanga over the booking, claiming that Keïta was right to demand a card for time-wasting.

Fair Play and Sporting Conduct

With all the talk of Fair Play recently, was that in keeping with the spirit of fair play?

If captains are allowed to question referees and call for cautions with impunity, why would any other player risk a caution?

It’s a pity that Keïta missed Guinea’s next match, and that it cost Guinea dear, but let the referees officiate the matches – it’s what they are there for regardless of gender. And as for Fair Play and Sporting Conduct, what do they mean in practice if captains can try to get opponents sent off with impunity?

Clarification and Insult

I was the only person saying that if he did demand a card, he was wrong to do so because 1) it was unsporting conduct and 2) if the captain can demand an opponent should receive a card with impunity then all other players can get their captain to demand cards, knowing there will be no consequences. That would drive a fleet of coaches and horses through the regulations on sporting conduct.

I asked CAF’s Communications Director for clarification of why Keïta had been shown the yellow card on this occasion. It was absolutely essential context for this article, and he knew it. His response was to send me a 39-pages long document. He either knew full well that it did not contain the answer or hadn’t even read it first. It achieved one job, wasting my time reading it!

Lux September later told me that he would never have answered my question and persisted with his outrageous accusation that it was sexist to ask such a question about a female official. No, it was not. It was essential to know if Keïta was yellow-carded for unsporting conduct. September’s antics prevented an article that he knew was going to say that Salima Mukasanga was absolutely right to show Keïta the yellow card if that was the reason until now.

September knew or should have known – I have written several articles criticising male referees and I have asked about why they showed cards to players before.

It is pathetic and utterly offensive of him to accuse the only journalist, male or female, to say that the referee was right and her critics, almost (almost exclusively male) were wrong of sexism. Neither I nor any journalist should have to tolerate such conduct.

This morning September claimed to be proud to accuse me of sexism. So, Lux you are proud to make false accusations of sexism against the ONLY journalist, male or female, to say the referee was right and her male critics were wrong!