THE referee who blew up on 85 minutes in an AFCON match will be in charge of Belgium’s clash with Canada at the World Cup tonight.
Zambian official Janny Sikazwe caused huge controversy back in January when he ended Mali’s meeting with Tunisia five minutes early.
Initially, he blew up in 85th minute before play resumed, but he then opted to finish the contest early for a SECOND time.
The 42-year-old spoke out about the incident a month later and said he could have died from heatstroke had he not blown early.
He said: “I have seen people going for duties outside the country and come back in a casket.
“I was very close to coming back like that.
“I was lucky I didn’t go into a coma. It would have been a very different story.
“The doctors told me my body was not cooling down.
“It would have been just a little time before [I would have gone] into a coma, and that would have been the end.
“I think God told me to end the match. He saved me.”
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Despite his gaff, Sikazwe will be back in the spotlight this evening when he referees Belgium against Canada at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.
This will be the first of two matches that he’s set to officiate.
Sikazwe will also be in the middle of Japan against Poland later in the group stage.
