Ghanaian referees may not go as far as the semi finals of the prestigious CAF Champions league, following CAF’s decision to ban Joseph Lamptey for six months.
Joseph Lamptey and his team of assistants from Ghana were celebrated last season when they took charge of the fierce semi final second leg between Esperance of Tunisia and Ahly of Egypt in Sousse.
But referee Lamptey is paying for his decision to allow a handball goal by Nigerian striker Michael Eneramo which decided the game in favour of Esperance. Joseph Lamptey had been mentioned for big things in his refereeing career but this latest ban could jeopardize what looked like a bright future.
Retired FIFA referee Joseph Wellington however tells the 37-year-old all is not lost. He said referee Lamptey must take the suspension as part of the learning process and soldier on for this “has happened to many top referees in the world. This is not the first time that referees are being suspended.”
Getting punished for faulty decisions, referee Wellington said, is part of the hazards of the game.