JOHANNESBURG — Tunisian referee Slim Jdidi has been banned by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after his controversial performance in Wednesday's African Nations Cup semifinal between Burkina Faso and Ghana. Burkina Faso beat Ghana on penalties to reach its first African Cup final in a stunning upset Wednesday, coming from behind to draw 1-1 after 120 minutes and then eliminating the four-time champion 3-2 in the shootout. “CAF was not happy with the standard of refereeing in the match,” general secretary Hicham El Amrani told a media briefing Thursday. “We know they can make mistakes but we expected a better level of refereeing. They are graded on each performance and based on his marks the referee from Tunisia is now suspended for a period of time still to be determined.” Among the contentious issues during Wednesday's match in Nelspruit was the red card given to Burkina Faso forward Jonathan Pitroipa that could mean he will miss Sunday's final against Nigeria. Pitroipa received his second booking of the game, for simulation, in extra time after going down in the penalty area. The organizing committee will decide Friday whether the player can take part in the final. Burkina Faso has launched an appeal but El Amrani said the only way Pitroipa could avoid an automatic one-match ban will be if Jdidi acknowledges he made a mistake in his referee's report. “The organizing committee does not have the power to change a referee's decision,” El Amrani explained. “If the referee has admitted a mistake in his report the committee will consider it and make any decision if necessary. But that report ... is final.” Jdidi also awarded a soft spot kick to Ghana in a display which threatened to overshadow an exciting encounter that Burkina Faso eventually won 3-2 penalties. In the other semifinal, Nigeria earlier pulverized Mali 4-1 in Durban with the most accomplished showing of any team in the tournament so far, hammering in three goals before halftime. Ghana will now face Mali in the third-place playoff in Port Elizabeth Saturday, while Nigeria and Burkina Faso prepare for the tournament climax in front of 90,000 fans Sunday. — Agencies
