Assistant referee Jabo Aristote has been suspended for four matches following a controversial officiating decision that saw a legitimate APR FC goal wrongly disallowed during their Rwanda Premier League match against Al Merrikh.
The Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) confirmed the sanction in an official statement released in the early hours of Tuesday.
Referees Commission Identifies “Serious Error”
According to FERWAFA, the Referees Commission reviewed match footage from the game played on January 18, 2026. The review found that Aristote committed a “serious error” in the 88th minute by signaling an offside that did not exist, leading to the cancellation of APR FC’s goal.
Disallowed Goal Alters Match Outcome
The goal in question was a powerful strike by Dauda Yussif Seif, assisted by Ruboneka Jean Bosco. Its cancellation meant the match ended in a draw instead of an APR FC victory, denying the club two crucial points in the league standings.
Title Race Impacted by Officiating Decision
Had the goal been allowed, APR FC would have moved into second place in the provisional league table. Such a result would have strengthened both their confidence and position ahead of a crucial upcoming clash against league leaders Al Hilal.
Instead, the defending champions now head into the high-stakes encounter under increased pressure, with analysts and fans suggesting the error could influence the momentum of the title race.
FERWAFA Emphasizes Accountability and Integrity
In its statement, FERWAFA stressed its commitment to fairness and improving officiating standards in Rwandan football.
“The commission found that a serious error was made by the second assistant referee, where an APR FC goal was disallowed based on a wrong offside call,” the statement read. “As a result, Jabo Aristote is suspended for four matches.”
While the suspension sends a strong message on accountability, it does little to compensate APR FC for the lost points that could have significantly altered the course of their season.
