CAF’s Disciplinary Board releases a final decision on the 2019 CAF Champions League Final.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has made public a decision taken by it’s Disciplinary Board this Wednesday August 7, 2019, regarding the controversial CAF Champions League return leg game between Esperance of Tunis from Tunisia and Wydad Casablanca from Morocco.
CAF initially awarded the unfinished return leg game to Esperance and declared them champions of the 2019 CAF Champions League, because Wydad refused to carry on with the game insisting on the use of the VAR to check a goal call.
CAF later ordered for a replay on a neutral venue after the 2019 AFCON in Egypt.
Both teams challenged CAF’s decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), demanding that they should be awarded the the trophy, the winners medals and the cash prize.
A ruling from the CAS ruled against a replay and also ruled in favour of Esperance as the champions. At the end of the unfinished second leg Esperance were a goal up. The first leg game ended on a 1-1 draw in Morocco.
CAF has now released what looks like a final decision to finally put the matter to bed.
Final Decision:
Regarding match no. 144 E.S.T (Tunisia) vs. W.A.C (Morocco) played on 31 May 2019 – Final 2nd Leg of the CL 2018/2019:
The Wydad Athletic Club: is considered to have lost the game in the Final 2nd leg, a fine of 50,000 USD (Fifty Thousand US Dollars) is imposed on the club for the abandonment of the match and a fine of 15,000 USD (Fifteen Thousand US Dollars) is imposed for the use of flares by the supporters.
Club EST: Mr. Mohamed Meddeb, President of Club EST has been fined 20,000 USD (Twenty Thousand US Dollars) as well as receiving a warning for his unsporting behavior against the President of CAF.
The club EST is fined with 50,000 USD (Fifty thousand US Dollars) for the use of smoke and projectiles and the unsporting behavior of their supporters. EST will play their next two (2) home interclub matches behind closed doors for the excessive use of smoke and firecrackers. However the Disciplinary Board has decided to suspend the sanction in question provided that the club is not found guilty of a similar offense for the next twelve (12) months.
This is far from being the last we have heard from this matter, Wydad might still consider adding another twist to the very fascinating tale to the neutrals though embarrassing to CAF.
Esperance have now officially retained the trophy they won in 2018 and will now have four stars on their traditional black and gold jerseys to signify four Continental triumphs in the continent’s most coveted club football trophy.
Muambo Edward
