Frustrated African clubs demand reforms after controversial refereeing in CAF competitions

Three clubs have lodged formal complaints after the weekend’s CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup matches, igniting a wave of discontent throughout the African football community.

Their actions come amid escalating frustrations regarding officiating standards that many agree are essential to the continent’s sporting fabric. The clubs express deep concern over what they describe as “questionable refereeing decisions” that have directly influenced match outcomes.

They cite instances of poor officiating that have not only affected the integrity of games but also created an environment of distrust among stakeholders in African football.

These frustrations are not isolated; they reflect a growing belief within various clubs that systemic issues have plagued African competitions for decades. The inconsistent refereeing criticisms underscore a pressing need for structural changes to elevate officiating quality to international standards.

As discussions unfold, the broader implications of this controversy are clear: the future of African football hinges on the ability of clubs and CAF to collaborate effectively to ensure a fair and transparent playing environment.

Al Ahly, Egypt’s celebrated football club, has taken a strong stance following a tumultuous matchday in the CAF Champions League on Friday, when they faced Moroccan hosts AS FAR in Rabat. Following the 1-all result, the Egyptians submitted an official letter to the Confederation of African Football addressing several alarming incidents that overshadowed the tournament’s competitiveness and safety during the fixture.

Documentation from referees and match officials pointed to severe disruptions during the match, notably stemming from unruly behaviour by FAR Casablanca supporters. The chaos reached a peak when fans threw projectiles onto the pitch, prompting an extended suspension of play. The unrest began when Libyan referee Ahmed Abdel Razzaq disallowed a goal for FAR due to an offside call, igniting frustration among the local supporters.

Amid growing concerns about officiating quality, Al Ahly has demanded systemic reforms, emphasising that the integrity of African club football is at stake. In their letter, the club outlined several key requests to safeguard fairness and player welfare in forthcoming matches.

The Tunisian champions, Espérance Sportive de Tunis, have made a forceful appeal to CAF regarding what they describe as systemic refereeing injustices persisting within the CAF Champions League.

Espérance drew 1-all against Angola’s Petro de Luanda on Saturday at the Estádio Nacional 11 de Novembro in Talatona, Angola. Their statement detailed their grievances, particularly highlighting a series of contentious officiating decisions that they believe have adversely impacted their performance and standing in the competition.

They recalled a previous controversial VAR decision in last season’s knockout phase against Mamelodi Sundowns — a misjudgement that ultimately saw them ousted from the league.

“These continuous refereeing issues in African competitions must end immediately,” the club said, underscoring its frustration and the need for intervention.

In Saturday’s game against Petro Luanda, the Tunisian giants claimed to have suffered from significant errors made by referee Jean-Jacques Ndala, which they argue played a pivotal role in denying them what could have been a crucial victory.

“Multiple decisions have consistently gone against us,” EST lamented, indicating a pattern of officiating they perceive as detrimental to their competitive standing.

In a decisive step toward addressing their concerns, EST has submitted a formal complaint to CAF, bolstered by video evidence that it believes substantiates its claims.

The iconic Egyptian club, Zamalek, has taken the unprecedented step of lodging an official complaint with CAF against Rwandan referee Samuel Uwikunda. The decision comes in the wake of a series of contentious officiating decisions that left the team incensed during their recent fixture against Kaizer Chiefs in Polokwane.

Zamalek players and officials expressed their dissatisfaction with what they deemed to be egregious refereeing errors. The club’s frustrations centre on five primary concerns: a disallowed goal, unjustified yellow cards, a penalty appeal, a call for competent referees, and the implementation of VAR.

Zamalek insists that these discrepancies jeopardise fair play and undermine the integrity of the tournament.

After Sunday’s match in Zanzibar, which ended with Stellenbosch and Singida Black Stars playing to a 1-1 draw, visiting coach Barker remarked: “Unfortunately, a clear penalty was not given to us when we’re leading one up. So, very disappointed in the officiating.”