Court of Arbitration for Sports revokes CAF decision to replay African Champions League final

The Court of Arbitration for Sport on Wednesday overruled an
African Football Confederation decision to replay the abandoned
Champions League final between Esperance and Wydad Casablanca.

CAF last month ordered the second leg to be replayed at a
neutral venue following the Africa Cup of Nations after Moroccan
side Wydad walked off an hour into the return fixture in Tunis when
a VAR malfunction meant a disallowed equaliser could not be
reviewed.

Tunisia’s Esperance, who led 2-1 overall at the time, was
initially handed the title, but CAF later backtracked after
determining that “playing and security conditions were not met”.
Both clubs subsequently lodged appeals with CAS.

But CAS on Wednesday ruled that the executive committee of CAF
“did not have jurisdiction” to order that the game be replayed.

CAS said it was 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”.

Requests by Wydad to be named champions and granted the winners’
paycheck were rejected, with CAS adding that Esperance’s appeal
would be investigated at a later date.

The on-field fiasco prompted CAF to reduce both the Champions
League and Confederation Cup finals from two legs to one match at a
neutral venue from next season.

(AFP)