Referee’s FIFA World Cup exclusion sparks outrage in Botswana

Highly-rated Botswana referee Joshua Bondo’s exclusion from the 2022 Qatar World Cup officiating panel has sparked outrage in the country.

Some quarters have pointed fingers at Botswana (BFA) as having contributed to the exclusion of the AFCON referee Bondo.

WHAT SOME QUARTERS SAY

Ntshekisang Moeti Koachas, commenting via BFA Facebook page, said Bondo lacked sufficient backing for him to earn selection.

“He was never recommended by anyone,” he said.

“The official report from the just ended AFCON was probably silent about his performances.

“Yet he continues officiating difficult games ahead of their favorites.

“Again, the criteria may push him out because he couldn’t afford to buy the opportunity.

“Otherwise the whole world knows about his capabilities. My opinion.”

Football fan Riddick Jones suggested that Bondo might have been overlooked because the Zebras are ranked lowly on Fifa rankings.

“Fifa Rankings play a part in all referees nominated for selection,” said Jones.

“If it was due to performance only then the Zambian ref [Janny Sikazwe] who ended the game twice before regulation time causing so much noise would not have gone there at all.”

Sir-Kabelo Bushy Ipotseng said the was favouritism in the selection criteria.

 “North and Western African countries are discriminatory,” he said.

Botswana’s Daily News also weighed in on the debate.

“Batswana were anticipating that Bondo would make history by being the first Motswana to officiate at the World Cup, after an outstanding performance at this year’s AFCON,” the newspaper reported.

“Bondo’s performance at the just ended AFCON was memorable.

“He made incontestable decisions that did not even require consulting the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

“the most memorable being him disagreeing with VAR in a game between Tunisia and Burkina Faso.”

BFA ISSUES CLARIFICATION

Persistent questions on Bondo’s omission in Botswana football quarters have prompted BFA to issue a clarification.

BFA says FIFA is responsible for selecting the referees and Bondo did not receive an invitation.

“The rigorous selection process started immediately after the 2018 FIFA World Cup which was held in Russia,” reads BFA statement issued on Friday.

“Referees are assigned assessors, instructors and mentors to guide and monitor their performance during high profile competitions like AFCON qualifiers, CAF Champions League and CAF Confederations Cup.

It adds: “Mr Joshua Bondo was not one of the referee candidates selected or earmarked to participate at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar,”

“In case of requirements by FIFA or CAF for match officials or referees travelling logistics, the two bodies will send communication to BFA to facilitate for such.

For the record, BFA has not received any request from FIFA or CAF on travel arrangements in regard to Mr Joshua Bondo.”

South African Victor Gomez will represent African referees at the World Cup alongside Algerian Mustapha Ghorbal.

Moroccan Redouane Jiyed, Gambian Papa Bakary Gassama, Ethiopia’s Tessema Balmak, Sikazwe (Zambia), Senegal’s Maguette N’diaye and Jean Jacques of DRC.