Suspended Referee Will Go For Appeal Against Ban

Suspended Kenya Football Referees Association (KFRA) chairman Wycliff Ogutu says he will appeal against the action.

Ogutu was among three officials suspended by Fifa's ethics committee for five years after being found guilty of engaging in corrupt activities.


However, Ogutu said on Friday he had done nothing wrong and the move was aimed at barring him from contesting in the federation's elections scheduled for later this year.

"This is an election year for the KFF office and someone wants to bar me from contesting. I was not directly involved in the appointment of Fifa referees. It is also unfair to be accused of soliciting money from potential candidates," said Ogutu.

He accused former KFRA Secretary General, GMT Ottieno, of communicating false allegations to Fifa that resulted into his suspension.

However, when contacted, Otteno said he had been vindicated by the ruling.

He consequently challenged those who had been accusing him of witch-hunt to come out and give evidence of what else they know about the situation.

"I am elated. When I made the claims I was accused of witch-hunt. I have been proven right. My plea is to those who were accusing me of malice to come out in the open and say what else they know," he said.

Ottieno said the ruling would inject professionalism in the process of selecting referees to be promoted to Fifa ranks.

Leading Fifa referee Alfred Ndinya, who was reprimanded over his involvement in the scandal, denied having said he was wrongfully implicated.Kenya Football Federation (KFF) Chief Executive, Sammy Obingo, said it was up to the individuals concerned to appeal to Fifa. However, he said the bans take effect immediately.

"The immediate effect would be that Ogutu steps down as chairman of KFRA," he said.

Obingo said the ruling has brought to an end the allegations that had become a trend every year when referees were about to be nominated to officiate in Fifa tournaments.