Raja protest 'refereeing scandal' with CAF

by Staff Reporter

Monday Apr 18, 2022. 16:00

Raja Casablanca have lodged a formal complaint with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) regarding the questionable officiating in their 2-1 Champions League defeat to Al Ahly on Saturday.

The Green Eagles travelled to Cairo for the first leg of their last-eight tie in Africa’s elite club competition and found themselves trailing to a 13th-minute penalty from Amr El Soleya.

The incident in question occurred when a cross appeared to strike Mohamed Al Makahasi on the arm and the referee pointed to the spot after VAR requested that he watch a video replay.

Raja decided to protest against the match officials after further TV replays showed that the ball had bounced off Al Makahasi’s knee onto his arm.

The 12-time Moroccan champions also felt that the Red Eagles’ second goal, scored by Hussein El Shahat in the 23rd minute, should have been ruled out for offside.

“Raja Club Athletic sends you this letter to protest … against the refereeing of Mr. Jean-Jaques Ndala and VAR referee Mehdi Abid Charef,” the club’s letter to CAF read.

“The whole world witnessed a refereeing scandal that tarnished the reputation of African refereeing and caused serious harm to the concept of equality between the two teams and the interests of Raja Club Athletic.

“The VAR image communicated by the VAR referee to the main referee demonstrates extreme bad faith and a willingness to destroy the chances of our club at the start of the match.”

Rachid Taoussi’s side will look to overturn the one-goal deficit when they host the Egyptian giants at the Stade Mohamed V in the second leg on Friday, April 22.