CAF declare Esperance African Champions
Ahram Online , Wednesday 7 Aug 2019


Tunisian side Esperance de Tunis have been declared the 2019 African Champions as the CAF disciplinary board ruled that Wydad de Casablanca have lost the final, ending speculation over a two-month saga.

"The Wydad Athletic Club is considered to have lost the game in the Final 2nd leg," read a statement on the CAF official website on Wednesday.

"A fine of $20,000 is imposed on the club for the abandonment of the match and a fine of $ 15,000 is imposed for the use of flares by the supporters."

Two months ago, Esperance were keeping a slender lead with 30 minutes remaining of the final's second leg in Tunis, when Wydad had an equaliser disallowed.

Wydad wanted the decision referred to VAR (video assistant referee), but the system was not working and the Moroccan team stormed off the pitch in protest.

After a 90-minute delay, Esperance players received medals and the trophy, but not the $2.5 million (2.24 mn euros) prize.

When CAF officials later ordered the second leg to be replayed at a neutral venue, both clubs lodged appeals at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

The CAS decided to overrule the CAF decision concerning the match replay, adding that the CAF executive committee "did not have jurisdiction" to order that the final be replayed.

It has ordered "competent CAF authorities to review the incidents" and make a decision, before CAFdisciplinary board put an end to the feud.

(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at@AO_Sportsand on Facebook atAhramOnlineSports.)

https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/342472.aspx