Lucien Hounkanly, the Lawyer of the suspended Togolese FA President, Tarta Axlessi, has said that Gambian International Referee, Pa Abdou Sarr alias Jasper, has been used as Scapegoat by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in the long outstanding leadership battle in the Togolese Football Association.

Speaking in an interview with Journalists in his Fajara Residence last week, the UK based Lawyer said that it was very unfortunate that Referee Pa Abdou Sarr was used as Scapegoat in a problem that does not concern him.

He revealed that a long outstanding problem exists between the then Togolese FA President, Rock Yasimbe and the suspended Tarta Axlessi for a leadership battle.
Explaining the details of the problem, Lawyer Lucien said that the differences started in June 2006 during the World Cup in Germany, where some technical staff of the Togolese National team resigned before the competition and the national team players were also demanding for payment before the kick off of the tournament.

He added that it was during that time that FIFA asked the Togolese FA to hold fresh elections.
“Mr. Tarta Axlessi was the only candidate standing against Rock Yasimbe, who is also the son of former Togolese President Yassimbe Ayadema. The Togolese Football officials were accusing Rock Yasimbe of dictatorship and interfering in the powers of other portfolios of the Association,” Mr. Lucien revealed.
He further revealed that since the election of Tarta Axlessi as president of Togolese FA, Mr. Rock Yasemba was looking for means of  putting  him on his knees.

“It would be very impossible for Referee Pa Abdou Sarr to accept only 500,000 CFA Francs (D25,000) for that very serious matter and the most serious part of it is that Togo lost the game they are referring too against Tunisia 3-0 and in the same game referee Pa Abdou Sarr denied a penalty for Togo. How can a bribed referee do such a thing,” Lawyer Lucien questioned.

Lucien associated this problem to the conflict facing CAF leadership in which Jacques Anouna of Ivory Coast is seen as the leader of the opposition to Issa Hayatou and Togolese FA president Tarta Axlessi is a good friend of Anouma.

Lawyer Lucien pointed out that he came to the Gambia to have words with referee Pa Abdou Sarr as they have setup a panel of Lawyers to bring light on the issue.
“We know that referee Pa Abdou Sarr did not have the money to appeal because it would require an amount of US $3000,” he revealed.

“Presently all Football activities have been suspended in Togo since three weeks until some thing is done about it,” Lawyer Lucien concluded.