Given the notorious behavior of North African players, Orlando Pirates have reason to feel aggrieved after VAR seemingly turned a blind eye to a serious incident against MC Alger.
Pirates gained an early advantage from the quarterfinal first-leg away to Algeria on Tuesday evening, coming back home with a 1-0 win and a crucial away goal.
READ | 1995-2025: Pirates can win this Champions League this year
After a goalless first half, Mohau Nkota scored the decisive goal with 25 minutes remaining with a low strike after being put through on goal.
However, there was a big incident with 26 minutes on the clock after Evidence Makgopa was elbowed down, with no foul or punishment given against the offending player.
The elbow was so blatant that it was surprising that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) did not intervene or call the referee to view the incident on the monitor.
According to IFAB rules: "The referee may be assisted by a video assistant referee (VAR) only in the event of a 'clear and obvious error' or 'serious missed incident' in relation to:
• Goal/no goal
• Penalty/no penalty
• Direct red card (not second caution)
- Mistaken identity when the referee cautions or sends off the wrong player of the offending team".
The incident appeared to be a red-card offence, or at least there were grounds for it to be reviewed, yet nothing was done.
"I think the referee ignored it, including the fourth official, because they were supposed to call him and there was VAR in this game," Jabu Mahlangu reacted on SABC Sport analyzing the game.
"But that's North Africa for you, you have to be a soldier, you have to be strong. Sometimes you have to play with one eye bruised.
"But in sport we don't want to see that, in football."
READ: PSL keeper ahead of Williams and Chaine?
A red card for an MC Alger player could have made a huge difference in the game, something that Pirates would feel very aggrieved about.
With VAR available in the CAF Champions League from the quarterfinals stage, the tendency of away teams being bullied on the pitch, especially in North Africa, should not be happening.