Force majeure hampers Uganda's ACN tie
Jun 17, 2007
IT is a typical case of <i>force majeure</i> (exceptional circumstances) and it can only happen in Africa. Referees destined to handle a key African Nations Cup qualifier receive their tickets a day to the game and get stranded in South Africa without visas to Lesotho. Amusing!
James Bakama
in Maseru
Lesotho v Uganda (PP)
Niger 1 Nigeria 3
Tomorrow 4pm
Lesotho v Uganda
IT is a typical case of force majeure (exceptional circumstances) and it can only happen in Africa. Referees destined to handle a key African Nations Cup qualifier receive their tickets a day to the game and get stranded in South Africa without visas to Lesotho. Amusing!
With an allowance given by the continental soccer governing body CAF for a match that cannot take place to be played later, Uganda agreed to a postponement. The Lesotho Football Association will pick the bill for Cranes extra stay in Maseru, according to CAF rules.
The legal French phrase for the situation Uganda finds itself in is force majeure. Luckily for Uganda, FUFA lawyer Fed Muwema arrived yesterday to sort out any legalities involved.
Early indications are that Uganda could walk off with all three points and two goals — win or lose.
Article 36, section 8 of the CAF regulations as used in the 2006 Nations Cup qualifying tournament, reads: “ If after the playing of the match ... it is established that the absence of the designated referees was the fault of the host association, the host team shall be declared loser by two to zero and shall be eliminated from the competition, irrespective of the result obtained on the field if the competition is played on the knock-out basis.â€
Tanzanian match officials Victor Mwandike, Charles Ndagala and Hamis Changwalu only received their tickets from the Lesotho Football Association to travel on Saturday.
The CAF rule for such postponed games is that they should have got them 14 days ago.
Ugandan officials led by football boss Lawrence Mulindwa suspected something fishy when they were told by the Namibian match commissioner Frans Samaria that he would appoint alternative officials from neighbouring South Africa. Namibia happen to be our qualifying rivals.
Mulindwa rejected the suggestion, wondering why the visas for the referees were not sorted out earlier. Uganda’s representatives at yesterday’s pre-match meeting, Asuman Lubowa and Edgar Watson, insisted the match be handled by the originally assigned referees.
Cranes are ready for any eventuality, because the commissioner also indicated the game might be played today.
in Maseru
Lesotho v Uganda (PP)
Niger 1 Nigeria 3
Tomorrow 4pm
Lesotho v Uganda
IT is a typical case of force majeure (exceptional circumstances) and it can only happen in Africa. Referees destined to handle a key African Nations Cup qualifier receive their tickets a day to the game and get stranded in South Africa without visas to Lesotho. Amusing!
With an allowance given by the continental soccer governing body CAF for a match that cannot take place to be played later, Uganda agreed to a postponement. The Lesotho Football Association will pick the bill for Cranes extra stay in Maseru, according to CAF rules.
The legal French phrase for the situation Uganda finds itself in is force majeure. Luckily for Uganda, FUFA lawyer Fed Muwema arrived yesterday to sort out any legalities involved.
Early indications are that Uganda could walk off with all three points and two goals — win or lose.
Article 36, section 8 of the CAF regulations as used in the 2006 Nations Cup qualifying tournament, reads: “ If after the playing of the match ... it is established that the absence of the designated referees was the fault of the host association, the host team shall be declared loser by two to zero and shall be eliminated from the competition, irrespective of the result obtained on the field if the competition is played on the knock-out basis.â€
Tanzanian match officials Victor Mwandike, Charles Ndagala and Hamis Changwalu only received their tickets from the Lesotho Football Association to travel on Saturday.
The CAF rule for such postponed games is that they should have got them 14 days ago.
Ugandan officials led by football boss Lawrence Mulindwa suspected something fishy when they were told by the Namibian match commissioner Frans Samaria that he would appoint alternative officials from neighbouring South Africa. Namibia happen to be our qualifying rivals.
Mulindwa rejected the suggestion, wondering why the visas for the referees were not sorted out earlier. Uganda’s representatives at yesterday’s pre-match meeting, Asuman Lubowa and Edgar Watson, insisted the match be handled by the originally assigned referees.
Cranes are ready for any eventuality, because the commissioner also indicated the game might be played today.