A referee in Algeria has been suspended after he was suspected of using a smart phone to judge an offside in the absence of VAR.
The controversial incident took place during the 14th-round match between CS Constantine and NC Magra in the Algerian Ligue 1.
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The goalless draw was overshadowed by late drama in stoppage time when Constantine thought they had secured a winner through Nigerian striker Tosin Omoyele.
However, the goal was disallowed for offside after a lengthy interruption lasting over 30 minutes.
With the VAR system unavailable, it is suspected that referee Lotfi Bekouassa turned to unofficial images on a smartphone to make his decision, according to Afrik Foot.
While the call to rule the goal offside was reportedly correct, the use of a mobile phone for such a judgment has sparked widespread criticism and debate.
The Algerian Football Federation (FAF) issued a strong statement condemning the incident and announced immediate disciplinary measures.
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— Fédération Algérienne de Football (@FAFAlgeria) December 22, 2024
"The Algerian Football Federation expresses its regret for the events that accompanied the match between CS Constantine and NC Magra, as part of the 14th round of the First Division championship, which was marred by a serious refereeing error that damaged the image of refereeing," the FAF stated.
The Emergency Committee of the FAF revealed that both Bekouassa and his assistant, Adel Abane, had been suspended with immediate effect.
An investigation has been launched by the Federal Arbitration Commission to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
"The FAF, which continues to work to improve the technical level and strengthen the ethics of refereeing, emphasises that it will not tolerate any transgressions or behaviours that may damage the image of Algerian football or cause violence, whether by referees, administrators, or players," the statement added.
Reports suggest that this is not Bekouassa's first controversy. In December 2022, he is believed to have faced criticism for ruling out a CR Belouizdad goal for a non-existent offside in a match against ES Ben Aknoun.
With this latest controversy, the referee's future at the top level of Algerian football now hangs in the balance.
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While some have defended the referee for maintaining composure under immense pressure, others argue that his actions undermine the integrity of the game.