Burundi Football Federation suspends referees for “Lack of courage”

In a decisive move, the Burundi Football Federation (FFB) has suspended international referee Georges Gatogato and his assistant, Emery Niyongabo, for five matchdays. The unprecedented sanction follows a formal complaint from club Muzinga, which felt aggrieved by officiating in its 2-0 defeat to Bumamuru.

After a thorough review, the FFB’s refereeing committee pinpointed a critical 77th-minute incident. The governing body stated the officials showed a “demonstrable lack of courage” for failing to award Muzinga a clear penalty.

Instead of pointing to the spot for a foul inside the box, Gatogato gave a direct free-kick outside the area. The committee also noted that the experienced assistant referee, Niyongabo, failed to intervene despite being closer to the play.

This suspension adds to the challenges for a federation grappling with multiple crises.

Recent months have seen the imprisonment of its general secretary and mounting allegations of match-fixing, painting a picture of an institution under severe strain.

This latest action signals an attempt to enforce accountability, even as darker clouds gather over Burundian football.