Sudanese football official who assaulted a referee was banned for 15 games

FIFA, the organization that oversees world football, announced that Yasser Nasreddin Hamza Al-Samani, the vice president of the Sudan Football Association, has been barred from the team’s next 15 competitive games for attacking a match official during a World Cup qualifier last month.

The incident occurred after Sudan’s prospects of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup were essentially dashed after they lost 1-0 to Togo in Lome.

Ignatius Osei-Fosu, a Ghanaian assistant coach for Sudan, was also suspended for three games for “unsporting behavior towards a match officials,” according to FIFA. The game on September 9 was officiated by referees from Madagascar.

Additionally, both men received a CHF5,000 ($6,214) punishment.