When the whistle stings: Al Ahly pushes for safety and VAR after Rabat chaos

Al Ahly's Formal Request to CAF

Al Ahly has sent an official letter to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), addressing the incidents that marred the second group stage matches of the CAF Champions League. The letter documents the events as reported by referees and observers, and outlines four urgent proposals aimed at reducing misconduct on the field, safeguarding all participants, and lifting the spirit of fair play across African venues. The letter argues these proposals would help develop the continental competitions and boost their success by creating safer, more sporting atmospheres. Among the proposals is a request to implement comprehensive safety measures before every match, backed by security plans that reflect football’s prestige on the continent. The club also urges bringing VAR into every CAF Champions League fixture to ensure equity and the highest standards of justice for all teams.

A Night to Remember in Rabat

Earlier in the day, KOOORA reported that Al Ahly would not file a formal complaint against the Royal Army Club, despite the events in their Friday encounter. The Rabat clash at Moulay Hassan Stadium was tense, with fans and players at odds and several controversial moments on and off the pitch. The drama began when a sharp object was thrown toward Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet, prompting the players to alert the referee as teammates attempted to intervene to retrieve the object before it reached the officials. Walid Salah El-Din, the club’s football director, intervened as teammates recovered the item and tried to hand it to the referee, only for a Royal Army player to grab it and depart the field. The chaos continued as supporters hurled numerous bottles onto the pitch in the second half, especially in the final minutes as Al Ahly pressed the attack. In a late counter, several balls were thrown from the Moroccan side toward Ahmed Sayed Zizo and Imam Ashour in an apparent attempt to stop play. These scenes prompted Al Ahly to act quickly and send a formal letter to CAF, seeking lasting solutions to prevent a recurrence and to ensure a fair and respectful competitive environment for all clubs.

Punchline 1: If chaos on the pitch paid, we’d all be rolling in yellow cards and red carpets. Punchline 2: Maybe next time VAR should come with a latte—at least it would call the right match and wake everyone up.