Amartey is involved in penalty row

LEICESTER City defender Daniel Amartey was involved in a controversial penalty for Ghana in their World Cup qualifier against South Africa, writes Matt Abbott.

Amartey, who returned to the international scene this year after three years away, was adjudged to have been felled by Rushine De Reuck as the City man chested down a corner in the South Africa penalty area.

Former Swansea City and West Ham United forward Andre Ayew converted the resulting spot-kick in the 33rd minute, and it turned out to be the only goal of the game.

The win saw the Black Stars rise above Bafana Bafana at the top of Group G on goal difference.

Only first place in the group is good enough to progress to the third and final stage of CAF World Cup qualifying, so South Africa were eliminated at Amartey and his team-mates’ expense.

The visitors were far from pleased with referee Maguette N’Diaye’s performance in Cape Coast on Sunday, and South African Football Association CEO Tebogo Motlanthe claimed they suspected match-fixing.

“We suspect the game was fixed and our position is that it must be investigated,” Motlanthe told TimesLIVE.

“The conduct of the match officials left much to be desired and we want both CAF and FIFA to investigate.”

South Africa head coach Hugo Broos was similarly seething after the match and, while admitting to not seeing the incident, was far from pleased with the Leicester man.

“I just saw Daniel Amartey go down” he told news24. “He went down many times during the game, but I didn’t see the incident. But I saw my players were surprised.”