Rwandan authorities have arrested François Régis Uwayezu and one other official of the country’s football association in the wake of corruption allegations after the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Ivory Coast played in Kigali on Saturday.
Ivorian officials complained that the referee of the said game took bribe from Rwandan representatives to influence decisions during the encounter which the Elephants won 2-1.
Rwandan FA quickly moved to rubbish the report, insisting on proof from their Ivorian counterpart.
Rwandan authorities announced on Friday that the country’s football body’s secretary general François Régis Uwayezu and competitions official Eric Ruhamiriza have been arrested and an investigation opened.
A complementary report from the Ivorian party mentioned that an envelope was handed to the referee moments before the game.
Rwandan FA maintains the envelope contained ‘just’ the transport fare of the referee, as ‘it is conventionally done.’
Bottom-placed Rwanda will face leaders of Group H Guinea in a double header next month while second-placed Ivory Coast will take on Central African Republic.
