Referee at centre of Afcon farce was rushed to hospital after Tunisia vs Mali with ‘heat stroke and severe dehydration’

THE REF who sparked Afcon chaos between Tunisia and Mali was reportedly rushed to hospital straight after the game.

Janny Sikazwe was said to be suffering from ‘heat stroke and severe dehydration’.

Reuters

Janny Sikazwe was widely criticised for his performance during Tunisia vs Mali[/caption]

Reuters

And it is said he was suffering with heat stroke[/caption]

He blew for full-time after 85 minutes.

But the game restarted as he rejected a VAR red card review and then ended the game early AGAIN – this time 20 seconds before the 90-minute mark.

Sikazwe, who had already given two controversial penalties, then needed security to protect him as he exited the pitch before further drama saw Mali come out once more to finish off the match but Tunisia never reappeared.

Now it has been claimed he was taken to hospital straight after the game with heat stroke and severe dehydration.

Afcon’s head of refs Essam Abdel-Fatah defended Sikazwe’s showing and said he was struggling with the 34-degree heat and 65 per cent humidity in Limbe, Cameroon.

It has also since emerged the Afcon debacle is not the first time the referee’s performance has led to widespread attention

JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)

He was suspended over corruption allegations three years ago.

The Zambian official got banned by the Caf – African football’s governing body – following an African Champions League semi-final between Esperance and Primiero Agosto.

Esperance won the match 4-2 on the night in October 2018.

But their opening goal came as a result of a questionable penalty awarded by Sikazwe.

And Agosto were left fuming when they had a goal of their own ruled out for an alleged foul on the opposition goalkeeper.

Sikazwe was investigated and duly punished for his display.

The Caf disciplinary board ruled: “The chairman of the Caf Disciplinary Board decides that there is good ground to hold a hearing regarding allegations of corruption made against Mr Janny Sikazwe.

“Mr Janny Sikazwe is provisionally suspended from all football activities related to Caf pending a hearing before Caf Disciplinary Board.”

 Read our Transfer News Live blog for the very latest rumours, gossip and done deals

The ban came into force in November 2018 but was lifted by Fifa two months later.

Just four months before his fateful Champions League nightmare, Sikazwe took charge of two matches at the World Cup in Russia.

The part-time teacher refereed Belgium vs Panama on June 18 then Japan vs Poland 10 days later.

FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS