NAIROBI, Kenya, July 30 – Comoros head coach, Amir Abdou, has trashed charges levelled against his suspended Kenyan counterpart, Adel Amrouche, that he spat at an official during their 2015 Afcon qualifier on May 30.
The spitting allegations were the reason given by the Disciplinary Committee of continental body CAF to slap a one-year football ban that has been appealled by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) on the Belgian coach.
The continental body initially handed Amrouche a two-match touchline ban before announcing the suspension from the game Monday last week.
During the match that ended 1-1 at the Saïd Mohamed Cheikh International Stadium in Comoros that saw Kenya progress to the second round 2-1 on aggregate, Amrouche fell foul with the Fourth Official whom it was alleged he spat at in anger.
“In my capacity as the coach of the national team of Comoros, I wish to present to you my version of the events following the suspension decision taken against Mr. Adel Amrouche.
“As one of the people present at the scene of the incident that informed the sanction imposed by the Confederation of African Football, I would like to give my testimony. Mr Adel Amrouche did not “spit” on the referee during the return match, a qualifier for the AFCON 2015, between Kenya and Comoros,” Abdou said in a translated statement.
“He did in fact very vehemently and with agitation express his displeasure but he did not at any point behave in any such manner as alleged,” the Comoros tactician added.
“Through this testimony, the FCF (Football Comoros Federation), which I represent, wishes to support the FKF (Football Kenya Federation), which has appealed against this sanction.
“The very punitive sanction seems to be disproportionate to the infringements associated with Mr. Adel Amrouche’s behaviour during the match, which were characterized by agitation and verbal attacks on various match officials,” the declaration further read.
The Comoros boss and his federation presented themselves to be quizzed for further clarification on the matter.
Amrouche went on with his duties with the Kenyan team on Wednesday despite the uncertainty over his future as the country seeks to overturn a first leg 1-0 deficit when they welcome to Lesotho in the return leg of their second round qualifier.
Speaking after the CAF ban news broke, FKF president, Sam Nyamweya, stated they would ‘vehemently appeal’ the decision that would mean letting the Belgian who was hired in February last year although ‘options are in place’ should the continental body uphold their ban.
Kenya has only lost once with Amrouche in the dugout, a friendly reverse against Malawi last November having fell to Nigeria in the return leg of their 2014 World Cup qualifier last June and Lesotho in Maseru when he was banned from the technical area.
