African Cup of Nations - Le Roy warned for Islam slur

Eurosport - Sat, 02 Feb 13:18:00 2008

FOOTBALL Claude Le Roy - 0

Frenchman Le Roy had been asked to explain a complaint from a CAF official that he made an insult in a row over the watering of the pitch before the Group A match against Morocco on Monday.

"Le Roy complained that the Egyptian match co-coordinator Nosseir Fathy had sided with Morocco in not allowing the pitch to be watered just before the kick off of the game because 'he was Muslim like them'," CAF said.

CAF said its rules stated that "anyone who publicly disparages, discriminates against or denigrates someone in a defamatory manner on account of race, colour, language, religion or ethnic origin, or perpetrates any other racist and/or contemptuous act, will be subject to match suspension for at least five matches at every level."

It is not known why Le Roy was not punished further for the comment.

Le Roy's assistant Herve Renaud has already been suspended for Sunday's quarter-final against Nigeria for attempts to get ground staff to water the pitch against the instructions of the match officials.

Despite criticism from local press and fans, Ghana beat Morocco 2-0 to qualify as Group A winners with three wins in three matches and face Nigeria in the quarter finals.

Eurosport

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