Djani Sikzwe, the controversial referee at the World Cup in Qatar. – Play

At least on one front there was peace at the start of the World Cup: everything went smoothly with the referees. Belgium-Canada game until (1-0): Zambian referee Jenny Sikazwe made two wrong decisions in Belgium’s favour, including a very serious one: he denied Canada a crystal-clear penalty in the 38th minute when Axel Witsel confronts Richie as Laria brutally pulls him off his feet.

It should have been a second penalty for Canada, the first having been checked by the video assistant (VAR) after a player protest: clear handball from Carrasco. But Alphonso Davis missed a big chance. In the case of Witsel’s foul, on the other hand, referee Sikzwe didn’t even call VAR, he made the decision on his own.

This reveals the shortcomings of this device: if obvious facts that largely affect the course of the game, such as penalty kicks, can be recognized but not penalised, what use is it: because The referee, who should support VAR, prefers to do without help?

At the Africa Cup of Nations, Sikazwe called off a game after 86 minutes

However, the case of 43-year-old Jenny Sikzwe is a special one. The Zambian man is not a blank slate. The ironic debate about himself had started even before kick-off: Sikazwe had caused a sensation at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon in January when he scored against Tunisia with a 1–0 scoreline after 86 minutes. The game was ended. Due to vehement protests from the Tunisians, who stormed the pitch with their wristwatches, he had to restart the game, only to end it early again – with a total of nine substitutions and two penalties already long. Despite the hindrances – in the 89th minute.

Sikazwe escorts security guards from the square, Tunisians protest in vain at the Africa Association cafe. Shortly afterwards, Sikazwe offered an original explanation for his “lost-in-time” performance: he was on the verge of heat collapse due to the high temperature, having lost communication with his colleagues via headset, instead He had already heard other, strange voices. After all, as he told AfricaNews, Also: “I think God told me to quit the game! He saved me.”

God is always appropriate; According to Maradona, at the 1986 World Cup he already had his hand on the ball and was therefore in the game. FIFA should scrutinize its masters of the game more closely for such a world tournament. Then it would have been seen that Sikzwe already has a suspension due to suspicion of corruption. There were discrepancies in Africa’s Champions League semi-final in October 2018 between Tunis and Luanda; The ban was lifted due to lack of evidence.

Months earlier, Sikzwe officiated in two matches at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Including Belgium’s 3–0 win over Panama.