Rwanda Football Association (Ferwafa) has banned APR goalkeeping coach Ibrahim Mugisha and assistant coach Vincent Mashami for 8 and 4 games, respectively, following their clash with referee Issa Kagabo after their 1-0 loss to Espoir in the National Football League, a fortnight ago in Rusizi.

An official statement published on the Ferwafa website yesterday indicated that Mugisha will also pay a fine of Rwf100,000 while Mashami will part with Rwf50,000 as agreed by the five-man Ferwafa disciplinary committee headed by Joseph Kajangwe.

Ferwafa secretary general Olivier Mulindahabi told Times Sport that, "Ibrahim Mugisha and Vincent Mashami have 48 hours to appeal this decision and this can be done in written form, even by email.”

The duo, that was on national team duty over the weekend in Zambia, arrived back in the country on Tuesday afternoon but left yesterday with APR for the return leg tie against Al Ahly in the Caf Champions League on Saturday at the Petro Sport stadium in Cairo.

This paper spoke to them before departure but they claimed that they were innocent.

Mashami said, "We have been hearing some allegations in the last few days and we really do not know where all this is coming from!”

"This was not the first time we were losing a game but we merely wanted to have a chat with the referee Issa Kagabo to find out why, in his opinion, he sent off Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza but all of a sudden Police showed up and started beating us so I tried to rescue Michel Ndahinduka who was caught up in the scuffle.

"Kagabo issued his report and he did not include any clash so we really do not know on what basis this decision has been made,” narrated Mashami.

According to sources in Ferwafa, the decision is based on photographic evidence that the coaches were involved in a scuffle, but both Mugisha and Mashami have dismissed that.

Mugisha and Mashami have revealed that they will appeal this decision. The two are expected back into the country by Monday.

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