Burundi forward fined hundreds of thousands for brutal tackle on Harambee Stars goalkeeper

Burundi forward Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana has been handed a hefty punishment by FIFA following his reckless challenge, on Harambee Stars goalkeeper Brian Bwire, during last month’s 2026 World Cup qualifier in Bujumbura.

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Kenya edged Burundi 1-0 on 9 October, but the match started on a sour note when Bimenyimana’s dangerous lunge left Bwire writhing in pain.

The Polokwane City shot-stopper required on-field treatment, before being stretchered off with a deep cut above his eye that kept him out of action in the subsequent game against Ivory Coast.

The Burundian striker, who previously turned out for Kaizer Chiefs in South Africa, was shown a straight red card by Zambian referee Hillary Hambaba barely two minutes into the match.

FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee has since ruled on the incident, extending Bimenyimana’s initial one-match ban to a three-match suspension and imposing a fine of CHF 5,000 (approximately Kshs 802,951).

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According to FIFA’s official disciplinary overview for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, the 27-year-old was found guilty under Article 14.1(e) of the Disciplinary Code, which covers “misconduct of players and officials, unsporting behavior towards an opponent or a person other than a match official.”

Having already missed Burundi’s subsequent qualifier against Gabon, the former Amakhosi striker will now sit out two more matches.

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Bimenyimana currently plies his trade with Jeddah SC in the Saudi second division, where he has made a bright start, scoring four goals in seven appearances since joining the club earlier this year.

In a statement, FIFA reiterated that its judicial bodies “take decisions based on the specific circumstances of each case,” noting that some decisions remain open to appeal.