Tout Puissant Mazembe

If in the past the Congolese sportsmen had complained about the level of the national championship, today there is no longer any question! Referees are the one who undermine the most play-offs of the decade. In order not to let the situation deteriorate, FECOFA examined the arbitration aspect during the play-offs season 2016-2017 and made public a strong and courageous decisions.

Here is the content of the press release No FBA/SEGAL/003/2017:

Having reviewed the situation of the refereeing of D1 games as a whole and in particular those of the return phase of the play-offs in particular: DCMP-Don Bosco of 7 June and AS V.Club-OC Bukavu Dawa of 14 June. And after hearing the Linafoot management committee and its board of referees, it emerged that serious intentional technical misconduct of arbitration was committed by officials of the above-mentioned matches.

As a result, the Executive Committee, in accordance with the provisions of Articles 2 and 52 of the Statutes of the Federation, decides as follows:

1. The following persons are prohibited from all activities related to football:

- Mr Claude KAMULETA, central referee of the DCMP-Don Bosco match of 7 June 2017

- Mr ENGBANGUKA Bremer, central referee of the match AS V.Club-OC Bukavu Dawa of 14 June 2017

2. Regarding DCMP-Don Bosco Match Mr. Christophe MBAMBU, Commissioner his suspension is increased from 3 to 12 months in accordance with article 85 of the CDF.

3.  Administers a severe reprimand against the Linafoot Arbitration Commission.

4.  Administers also a severe blame on the Linafoot Management Committee, urging it to respect the ethical rules that should guide its mission.

In addition, the Executive Committee directed the Linafoot Management Committee to:

1.  Refrain from designating the non-active referees belonging to the Provincial Leagues staying in Kinshasa for any reason whatsoever.

2.  To schedule the matches of the last two days of the return phase of the play-offs on the same day and time.

3.  Only international referees will be designated as central referees for the remaining matches of the return phase of the play-offs. In case of force majeure, the Linafoot Management Committee may resort to high-quality federal and/or national referees by referring to the FECOFA National Referees Commission.

Outstanding issues, the Executive Committee instructed the National Arbitration Commission to open a case for all non-active members of the Provincial Leagues in Kinshasa and to report back to the Referees in a timely manner.

In short, the sanctions listed constitute a warning against any official who in the future would compromise themselves  in the performance of their duties.

The Federal communiqué is signed this Monday by Gregory BADI EDIBA ELONGA, Secretary General of FECOFA.