Sources close to Egyptian side, Ismaily SC have confirmed reports that the club has written to CAF to complain about the quality of officiating in last Friday’s Champions league game in Cairo.In technical terms, Ismaily SC have written a protest against refereeing trio on that day;Mekouande Evariste,Neant Alioum Siddi,Elvis Noupoue all Cameroonians.
Ismaily SC lost to visiting club Africain by 1-2 in a group D game that never ended because of crowd trouble perpetrated by Ismaily fans.
Mekouande Evariste,Neant Alioum Siddi,Elvis Noupoue who took charge of that game have a case against them tabled by Ismaily SC.
The match officials awarded two penalties against Ismaily SC in the last 5 minutes of the first half of the game which were all converted by Ayadi Ghazi.
The second penalty provoked violence from the Ismaily fans.Referee Alioum Siddi had initially awarded a free kick before deciding to switch to a penalty from the same action after talking to his assistant.
After the penalty was converted Ismaily fans targeted both assistant referees violently throwing bottles and other objects towards the assistant referees direction.
CAF Regulations clear in such cases;
CAF’s dictate that if a match is interrupted because of pitch invasion or aggression against the visiting team, the hosts shall be considered the loser and expelled from the competition.
Therefore,Ismaily risk expulsion from this season’s CAF Champions league after just two games.
Pundits say Ismaily’s move is a smart one to reduce the consequences that may fall on the club.
Angu Lesley
@angulesley on Twitter
