South Sudan footballers banned for female referee assault

South Sudan’s Wau Local Football Association (WLFA) has banned two Al-Hali FC team members from playing in the local league after they insulted and physically attacked a female referee during a match.

The prominent female referee in Wau, Sezarina Gabriel, who officiated the match between Al-Tadamun FC and Al-Hali FC on Sunday, was targeted after she warned the footballers over rough play and sent one of them off after repeated offences.

Four other players from Al-Hali FC were also suspended for three years for openly uttering offensive and discriminatory words against the referee and for supporting their teammates who assaulted her.

Al-Hali FC head coach, Hassan Ali, was suspended from all sporting activities until he appears before a disciplinary committee. He was accused of urging his players to continue despite the attack.

The match ended in chaos.

WLFA secretary-general John Baptist Abakar said his association “maintains zero tolerance to all kinds of discrimination, unjust behaviour and misconduct” in the local league.

BBC Africa