The case revolves around Joseph Odartei Lamptey, a Ghanaian football referee, who was sanctioned by FIFA for allegedly manipulating a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier match between South Africa and Senegal on November 12, 2016. The match ended 2-1 in favor of South Africa, with Lamptey making contentious decisions, including a disputed penalty award and allowing a quick restart that led to another goal. Post-match reports from officials and betting monitoring agencies, such as Sportradar and Early Warning System GmbH (EWS), flagged irregular betting patterns, suggesting prior knowledge of at least three goals being scored, which deviated from expected odds. These anomalies raised suspicions of match-fixing, leading to an investigation by FIFA’s Integrity Officer.
FIFA’s Disciplinary Code (FDC) Article 69(1) addresses "unlawfully influencing match results," requiring proof of actions contrary to sporting ethics. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) clarified that "conspiracy" under this provision includes intentional, secret actions to manipulate outcomes, whether alone or with others. Circumstantial evidence, such as irregular betting patterns linked to an individual’s conduct, can establish guilt. In this case, the betting anomalies occurred before key match decisions, suggesting a connection between Lamptey’s actions and the irregular patterns. Despite Lamptey’s defense that his decisions were innocent mistakes due to obstructed views and fast gameplay, CAS upheld FIFA’s sanctions, concluding that the evidence sufficiently demonstrated an attempt to unlawfully influence the match.
The investigation revealed Lamptey’s history of officiating matches with irregular betting patterns, and referee assessors unanimously criticized his decisions during the match as incorrect. FIFA’s Ethics Department concluded that Lamptey and his assistant referee played a preponderant role in manipulating the match, likely for betting purposes. Lamptey was initially given a lifetime ban by FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee in March 2017, which was upheld by the FIFA Appeal Committee in April 2017. Lamptey appealed to CAS, arguing the sanction was disproportionate and lacked direct evidence of conspiracy. However, the CAS panel, comprising Prof. Luigi Fumagalli, Mr. Romano Subiotto QC, and Mr. Mark Hovell, affirmed FIFA’s decision, stressing that match officials must uphold the highest ethical standards.
The Panel found Lamptey’s decisions deliberate and unjustifiable, noting that his actions directly influenced the match outcome. Video evidence showed the penalty decision was made too quickly for proper consultation, and the quick restart was initially controlled but then allowed to proceed. FIFA’s refereeing department confirmed these actions were unusual for an elite referee. The Panel also dismissed Lamptey’s argument that disallowing a Senegal goal contradicted manipulation intent, as no goal was actually scored. The betting patterns, analyzed by experts like Professor Ian McHale and Mr. Tom Mace, indicated prior knowledge of events, further supporting the integrity breach. The Panel concluded that Lamptey violated Article 69(1) of the FDC, emphasizing the need for strict enforcement against match manipulation to protect football’s integrity.
The lifetime ban was deemed proportionate, given the seriousness of the offense and Lamptey’s role as a referee, which demands unwavering ethical conduct. The Panel rejected Lamptey’s request for a reduced sanction, underscoring that integrity violations warrant severe penalties to deter future misconduct. The ruling reinforces FIFA’s authority to penalize such conduct based on circumstantial evidence and highlights the role of betting data in identifying match-fixing. The case serves as a precedent for interpreting FIFA’s rules on match manipulation and underscores the collaborative efforts of FIFA, betting monitoring agencies, and legal bodies to uphold fair play in sports. The decision reaffirms the zero-tolerance approach to actions compromising football’s credibility and the importance of maintaining the sport’s unpredictability and fairness.