Tunisian referee Haitham Guirat, who took charge of several matches at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, has been suspended indefinitely by the Tunisian Football Federation following a serious officiating error in a domestic league match.

The federation confirmed the decision on Monday, stating that Guirat was involved in a controversial incident during a Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 fixture.

The referees’ committee classified the incident as a “serious refereeing mistake,” prompting swift disciplinary action aimed at safeguarding the credibility of the league.

While the federation stopped short of revealing the exact nature of the error, the decision has sparked widespread criticism and renewed concerns over officiating standards within Tunisian football.

Guirat’s suspension has also reopened discussions about his role at the 2025 AFCON, particularly his involvement as VAR official during Nigeria’s third-place playoff against Egypt, a match the Super Eagles won via penalties.

According to the federation, the suspension comes with no fixed timeline.

Guirat will be subjected to further evaluation and review by Tunisian football authorities before any decision is made regarding a potential return to officiating.