The Rwanda Football Federation (RFF), says it has launched an investigation into a case of verbal abuse targeted at one of Africa’s finest female referees, Salima Mukansanga, after football fans hurled insults at during a league match in Kigali on Friday.
Mukansanga, a FIFA badged referee made history as one of the three female referees chosen to officiate at the men’s World Cup in Qatar.
During the match involving Kiyovu Football Club and Gasogi United held in Nyamata Stadium, south of Kigali, fans of the home team, Kiyovu reportedly hurled insults and offensive slurs at the referee at the end of the match which ended in a 0-0 draw.
“Offensive slurs were repeatedly chanted at Salima Mukansanga by fans from Kiyovu Football Club as she refereed their 0-0 draw against Gasogi United on Friday evening in Nyamata south of Kigali,” an RFF official said in a statement on Thursday.
Officials of the home club, in a statement on Wednesday, condemned the action of their fans and vowed to name and shame those responsible.
“The Kiyovu sports community will not tolerate anyone who disrespects anyone, especially in sports,” the club said.
The RFF also condemned the abuse and announced it had launched an investigation of its own into the matter.
Mukansanga also made history early last year when she became the first woman to referee at the Africa Cup of Nations, and also officiated at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.