The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has dismissed media reports claiming sanctions against Ghanaian referee Joseph Lamptey and his assistants for their performance in the Champions League semi-final match between Esperance and Ahly last Sunday in Rades, Tunisia.

The Ghanaian official came in for criticism for allowing a goal scored by Esperance which eventually sealed their place in the finals of the competition on the away-goal rule.

Following the outcome of the match, Egyptian newspaper Elyoum elsabaa reported that CAF President Issa Hayatou had proposed a lifetime ban for Ghanaian referee Joseph Lamptey and a two-year ban for his assistants during the said match.

The newspaper also reported that the CAF President had ordered Mohamed Bahou, Match Commissioner to launch an intensive investigation into the match following a telephone conversation between him (Hayatou) and Hany Abou Rida, Vice President of the Egyptian Football Association.

However, CAF in a statement on its website denies all the claims by the Egyptian newspaper.

"CAF wishes to remind all media that it is the responsibility of the CAF Referees Committee to make, as the procedure requires, the necessary evaluation of all match officials designated for all CAF matches, and to do the required follow up and take sanctions if necessary to ensure that the highest standards of refereeing are maintained," the statement said.

"The CAF President did not watch the game and he has neither spoken to the Match Commissioner, Mohamed Bahou of Morocco nor the Vice President of the Egyptian Football Association, Hany Abou-Rida of any sanctions against Lamptey and his assistants as reported.

"The CAF President has also not spoken to anybody in the Egyptian media after the match as claimed by a TV presenter. All the reports are false."