AFCON: Referee banned for controversial officiating in Tunisia-Equatorial Guinea match

Tunisia’s players had an altercation with the referee during the 2015 AFCON quarter-final against Equatorial Guinea

Tunis, Feb 4 Mauritian referee Rajindraparsad Seechurn has been banned for six months and fined $50,000 for his controversial officiating in the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) quarter-final in Equatorial Guinea. The host nation equalised off a dubiously awarded stoppage-time penalty and went on to a shock 2-1 win over Tunisia last week in Bata, reports Xinhua.

When the final whistle sounded, riot police had to protect the match officials from furious Tunisian players.

According to a Confederation of African Football (CAF) statement, host nation Equatorial Guinea was fined $5,000 for a pitch invasion and warned to tighten security at match venues ahead of the semi-finals.

The CAF referees committee "regretted" the poor performance of Seechurn in the quarter-final. The Mauritian has been sent home from Equatorial Guinea and dropped from the CAF elite referees panel.

The CAF disciplinary board also fined Tunisia $50,000 for "insolent, aggressive and unacceptable behaviour of the players and officials of the Tunisian team" during the match.

Tunisia will also pay the cost of the damages caused at the Estadio de Bata. CAF has also ordered Tunisia to send a letter of apology or provide evidence of the unfairness of CAF and its officials.

Failure to do so will lead to additional sanctions against Tunisia, including a possible ban from the 2017 Afcon qualifying competition.

For the semi-finals, Cote d'Ivoire face the Democratic Republic of Congo in Bata while Equatorial Guinea meet Ghana in Malabo.