Caf Champions League: VAR fiasco sees Esperance handed win as Wydad Casablanca refuse to return to pitch in protest

A row over the Video Assisted Referee (VAR) system saw the African Champions League final abandoned.

VAR was unavailable to rule over a Wydad Casablanca disallowed equaliser against Esperance.

Play was halted for an hour while Wydad refused to play after they had demanded the referee be used.

VAR had been set up at the side of the pitch but was not working. The players had not been told but the officials were aware of it.

Confederation of African Football (Caf) president Ahmad Ahmad was in discussion with officials for some time to try and get the game restarted.

The referee awarded the victory to Esperance, who retained their title.

The Tunisian side were leading 1-0 in the match, and 2-1 on aggregate, in the final played over two legs.

VAR had been used in the first leg played last week.

VAR has caused some controversy in the global game

Hawk-Eye, the company responsible for providing VAR technology, blamed a baggage handling error by Emirates Airline as partly to blame for the fiasco.

They said: “Hawk-Eye had arranged with a third party for one set of VAR equipment to be shipped from Riyadh to Tunis. The third party was responsible for exporting the equipment and shipping. We were informed on 23rd May that this equipment had been picked up and [they] were provided with a draft AWB and informed that the kit was due to leave Riyadh on Monday 27th.

“On Wednesday 29th May, upon waiting for the equipment to arrive into customs at Tunis, we were told this kit was still in Riyadh and would not arrive into Tunis on 30th May.

“Upon news that the Riyadh shipment would not arrive into Tunis on the 30th May, Hawk-Eye immediately implemented a backup solution which would fly on Emirates flight EK747 and hand delivered to the stadium on the morning of the 31st.

“This solution would have ensured the technology test and approval would take place. Unfortunately, Emirates made a baggage handling error and only 2 of the 3 cases of equipment arrived in Tunis.”

“Hawk-Eye makes every effort to deliver VAR services to Caf flawlessly. We are extremely disappointed that these issues have occurred. We would like to thank Caf for their ongoing support, and apologize unreservedly for this error.”

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