CAF responds to CAS decision on Champions League final replay

The highest court in sport, Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) overturned an African Football Confederation decision to replay the abandoned Champions League final between Tunisia’s Esperance and Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca.

During the second leg, Wydad left pitch after an equaliser they scored was disallowed. The players wanted the video assistant referee to check if the goal should stand but the system was not working, with Esperance declared champions.

CAF had ordered the second leg to be replayed on a neutral ground in South Africa as the 1-1 draw from the first leg in Morocco stands.

CAS ruled that the executive committee of CAF “did not have jurisdiction” to order that the game be replayed and said it is now up to “competent CAF authorities”, without giving further details, to “order the appropriate disciplinary sanctions, if any, and accordingly to decide whether the second leg shall be replayed or not”.

In a response by CAF, its says the matter will be referred to their respective committees.

“In reference to the appeals filed by Wydad Athletic Club of Morocco and Espérance Sportive de Tunis of Tunisia against the decision of the CAF Executive Committee taken on 5 June 2019, ordering the replay of the second leg of the Total CAF Champions League 2018/19 final, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on 31 July 2019 issued a partial decision.

“The CAS Panel annulled the decision of the CAF Executive Committee only for procedural reasons. However, CAF has yet to receive the summarized decision.

“The CAS Panel has decided to refer the case to the competent CAF bodies to apply the appropriate disciplinary sanctions, if any, and accordingly decide whether the second leg of the Total CAF Champions League 2018/19 season shall be replayed or not.

“In this regard, CAF announces that the competent bodies will meet shortly to decide on the case and details will be communicated in due course.”