Referee banned for controversial Equatorial Guinea penalty

Africa Cup of Nations referee banned for controversial Equatorial Guinea penalty

• Rajindraparsad Seechurn removed from list of top African officials
• His decision saved Africa Cup of Nations hosts and enraged Tunisia


Referee Rajindraparsad Seechurn is protected by security personnel from furious Tunisia players.

Rajindraparsad Seechurn of Mauritius, the referee at the centre of the controversial penalty decision that helped the hosts Equatorial Guinea reach the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations, the Confederation of African Football said in a statement on Tuesday.

He has also been removed from the list of top African officials, effectively ending his international career.

Equatorial Guinea were on the brink of elimination trailing 1-0 to Tunisia in the 90th minute when Seechurn ruled that Ivan Bolado had been fouled. Javier Balboa equalised from the spot and they went on to win 2-1 in extra-time.

The Tunisia team, some of whom attempted to attack the referee after Saturday’s quarter-final defeat in Bata, were handed a $50,000 (£33,000) fine but no individual sanctions were announced.

Equatorial Guinea were also sanctioned for poor security at the match. They play Ghana on Sunday.