African Champions League: CAF President explains VAR controversy in 2019 final between Wydad and ES Tunis
CAF President Ahmad Ahmad claims the VAR controversy in the second leg of the CAF Champions League final was 'unfair' towards Wydad Casablanca but has 'no answers' after the game was abandoned. Esperance retained the CAF Champions League title on Friday evening after Wydad refused to continue playing the fixture after the hour mark amidst confusion surrounding a legitimate goal being disallowed. READ: Moroccan FA to appeal CAFCL final result to FIFA With VAR (Video Assistant Refereeing) set up and planned to be used during the fixture, the Moroccan side, who cancelled Youcel Belaili's opening strike through a Walid El Karti header, remonstrated the offside call from Bakari Gassama. Gassama was said to have refused their on-field protests with the knowledge that VAR was unaccessible and as a result, could not overturn his original decision. Ahmad, who entered the pitch in an attempt to convince the visitors to continue the encounter admits he doesn't have all the answers to the controversial incidents that saw the Tunisians crowned champions. In a statement to Moroccan sports news outlet Almountakhab, the CAF president said: "If somebody did not see WAC's goal as legitimate, he then should change his hobby and to stop watching football. "The goal was legitimate and the Video Assistant Referee is not necessary to prove that." He added to HeSPORT: "Yes. Everything has been unfair towards Wydad. "We have had an agreement with a company to supply VAR; however, they informed us they wouldn't be apply to provide it for technical reasons just before the game. I have no answers to give you. I am even so frightened after what happened." Egyptian referee Gehad Gerisha was also suspended by CAF for six months after 'refereeing errors' in the first leg of the final that ended in a 1-1 scoreline in Rabat for ten-man Wydad.