CAF orders replay of African Champions League final after VAR controversy



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CAF ordered that the derelict return of the Champions League final between Esperance and Wydad Casablanca be rebroadcast in July on a neutral site.

The turmoil in the premier club competition in Africa comes just over two weeks before the start of an enlarged Nations Cup to 24 teams in Egypt.

Tunisian club Esperance first won the title after Morocco 's Wydad Casablanca was out of last week' s return match in Tunis because VAR was not available to judge an unauthorized equalizer.

The Spaniards, the leaders, led 1-0 in the second leg and 2-1 in the overall standings after the game stopped. After 90 minutes, the referee gave the match to the team. local.

"The conditions of play and security were not met during the return leg of the CAF Champions League final, which prevented the match from ending," said the presidential advisor CAF, Hedi Hamel, at the end of a long meeting of the executive committee in Paris.

"As a result, the match will have to be replayed on a pitch outside Tunisia … (and) Esperance will have to hand over the trophy.

"The match will be played after the Africa Cup of Nations on a date to be determined," he added.

The Tunisian media reported that officials knew before the return match that the VAR system was not working, but that the players apparently did not know it.

Wydad thought he had stabilized in the 59th minute when Walid el Karti had centered the ball in the net. The television broadcasts confirmed that he was on his side, but that he might have stained an opponent with his shoulder.

The Moroccan team insisted that the Gambian referee check with VAR, apparently without knowing that the system, often controversial, was not available.

Wydad substitutes and coach Faouzi Benzarti participated in the rally, while liquid plastic bottles were also thrown at players and visiting staff as the spirits seized.

At one point, CAF President Ahmad Ahmad and the bosses of Esperance and Wydad spoke to the side of the pitch but failed to restart the match.

VAR played a major role in the first leg of Morocco's final on May 24, with referrals excluding a goal from Wydad and later calling for a penalty from Moroccans.

The Egyptian referee of this match was then banned for six months. CAF said its performance was "poor".

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