Referee attacked by players after disputed late penalty

LAGOS, Apr 19 (Reuters) Gambia referee John Mendy was attacked by angry players from Cameroon's Union Douala yesterday after handing their opponents a last minute penalty which saw then knocked out of the African Confederation Cup, reports said.

Mendy was hit by unidentified players after Union Douala went down 3-2 to Kwara United of Nigeria in Ilorin and out of the competition 4-3 on aggregate, just days after the Confederation of African Football handed down a record suspension for a similar incident at the same ground in the previous round.

The referee had awarded the hosts a disputed last minute penalty, converted by Chukwuma Akabueze, to secure their win.

Union Douala had been on course to qualify on the away goals rule if the score had stayed at 2-2.

Reports said Union Douala players had in turn been attacked by Nigerian supporters at the end of the game.

At the weekend, CAF imposed a three year ban on goalkeeper Meraoune Abdouni of Algerian club Mouloudia Alger and an 18-month ban on defender Kamel Bouacida for attacking referee Noumandiez Doue of the Ivory Coast after their African Confederation Cup second round, first leg tie against Kwara United in Ilorin. Kwara United won 3-0 in that match.

Three other players were suspended for two matches for violent conduct, a club official for six months for running onto the pitch to remonstrate with the match officials and Mouloudia Alger were also fined 20,000 dollars.

Attacks on referees handling African club competition matches have increased markedly in recent years.

Reuters BJR VV1450