The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has opened an investigation into a disputed refereeing decision during the Confederation Cup quarter-final between Al Masry SC and CR Belouizdad, following an official complaint lodged by the Egyptian side.
CAF sources have confirmed that the governing body is reviewing the incident by examining video footage and listening to conversations between match officials and the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) team. The move comes after Al Masry questioned a key decision involving Zimbabwean referee Brighton Chimene during the closing stages of the match.
At the centre of the dispute is an incident involving CR Belouizdad player Jaber Kassis, who Al Masry claim should have been sent off after receiving two yellow cards. According to the complaint, the referee issued a caution to the player in the 88th minute for stopping a promising attack in midfield.
The controversy intensified in stoppage time. In the 94th minute, the same player was involved in a second incident after throwing the ball away following the referee’s whistle, leading to a confrontation with Al Masry’s Mido Gaber. While both players were shown yellow cards, Kassis was not dismissed, prompting protests from the Egyptian side.
Al Masry have argued that if the referee’s decision is deemed a technical error, CAF must take urgent action before the semi-finals of the competition, scheduled for mid-April. The club’s complaint specifically calls for a review of VAR communications to determine whether proper procedures were followed.
The VAR team for the match included Ghanaian referee Daniel Laryea and Libyan official Ahmed Al-Shalmani, whose exchanges with the on-field referee are now under scrutiny.
CAF officials say the investigation will focus on verifying the accuracy and seriousness of the claims, with a decision expected before the end of the week. The timeline is significant, as it coincides with preparations for the semi-final stage of both the CAF Champions League and the Confederation Cup, including the appointment of referees and confirmation of match schedules.
Al Masry were eliminated from the competition on the away goals rule after a goalless draw in the second leg, following a 1-1 result in the first leg in Suez. The outcome allowed CR Belouizdad to progress to the semi-finals, where they are set to face Zamalek SC.
The Confederation Cup semi-final line-up also includes Olympique Safi and USM Alger, while the CAF Champions League will feature ties between Espérance Sportive de Tunis and Mamelodi Sundowns, as well as an all-Moroccan encounter between FAR Rabat and RS Berkane.
First-leg semi-final matches in both competitions are expected to take place between 10 and 12 April, with return fixtures scheduled for 17 to 19 April.
CAF’s findings could have significant implications, not only for the integrity of the match in question but also for confidence in officiating standards as African club competitions approach their निर्णश stages.
