SCANDAL: Algerian AFCON referee arrested in South Africa for attempted rape of hotel cleaner

Published on: 17 December 2014
SCANDAL: Algerian AFCON referee arrested in South Africa for attempted rape of hotel cleaner
The referee was scheduled for an AFCON qualifying match

An Algerian match official who was due to be involved in South Africa's 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sudan last month has appeared in a Durban court on charges of sexual assault and attempting to rape a hotel cleaner.

The match official appeared briefly in the Durban Magistrates’ Court earlier today on charges of sexual assault and attempting to rape of the cleaner on the morning of Bafana Bafana’s qualifier in Durban last month.

According to the report, the Algerian national attempted to rape a cleaner in the Durban hotel he was staying at on the morning of Bafana's 2-1 win over Sudan at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

The official, whose name is known, was not asked to plead and the case was adjourned until Monday in order that investigators conduct a follow up interview with the complainant in the case.

The 33-year-old man’s bail of $200 was extended and he was released into the custody of officials from the Algerian Embassy in Pretoria, who have been given the responsibility of ensuring that he turn up for court hearings.

The official was one of four match officials provided by the Algerian Football Association for the Bafana game against Sudan, which the South African team won 2-1.

On the morning of the match he allegedly propositioned a female cleaner at the Suncoast Towers hotel, where the match officials were staying.

When she refused to have sex with him for pay, he then allegedly tried to rape her, but was disturbed by another cleaner who heard her cry for help.

The two women contacted security, who detained the official, who tried to leave the hotel and continue with his refereeing assignment, until police arrived.

The intervention by the police resulted in the man not being able to fulfill his refereeing commitments later that day.

Supporters at the game were oblivious of the behind the scenes hustling by Safa’s top brass, including CEO Dennis Mumble, to find a replacement for the official without alerting the media.

The official was eventually replaced with South African match official Lalelani Mngadi, who was called in to take over as the fourth official for the game.

The official has since returned to the Algerian Embassy in Pretoria.

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