Referee Amida Hemedi is among three referees suspended by the Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) over alleged involvement in match fixing. However, Amida claims he was suspended without being given a chance to explain himself, and that he was never officially informed of the decision.
In an interview with Rwanda Television, Amida said he was accused on social media and criticized by various people, including friends who questioned him about not “teaching them how to bet on games.” He claims he has not been assigned any matches for nearly two years, and was suspended without any official explanation.
“It’s been a year and a half, maybe two, since I’ve officiated any match. I was suspended for reasons I don’t know. I was never informed in advance of any misconduct accusations, never received a letter or even an email.”
Amida insists there is no evidence against him, and that the decision has had a serious impact on his life and the trust he once held as a referee.
FERWAFA, on the other hand, accuses Amida of linking referees with people involved in match fixing. Other suspended referees include Uwimana Ally and Mbarute Djihadi, who are accused of encouraging others to bet on games and receive money from match manipulators.
Amida says he is now seeking the truth and hopes to clear his name, trusting that justice will be served.
