Rabat – A penalty granted to Egypt’s Al Ahly Sports Club in Saturday’s game against Raja Casablanca has ignited global controversy, with accusations of unfair and biased refereeing.
The referee awarded the penalty 13 minutes into the game, when the ball bounced off the foot of Raja Casablanca player Mohamed Al Makahasi.
The referee claimed he gave the penalty because the ball touched Al Makahasi’s hand after bouncing off his foot, but it was not clear from the footage whether that actually happened.
Rachid Taousi, Raja’s manager, criticized the decision to grant the penalty in the post-game press conference, calling it an unfair decision but assuring fans that the team can still recuperate the loss during the second leg and make its way to the next round of the African Champions League.
Read also: Raja’s Ex-Coach: “Social Media Is a Poison in Morocco”
The manager also praised the performance of the team’s goalkeeper, Anas Zniti, who notably stopped a second Al Ahly penalty going in the net.
European sports news outlets such as L’Equipe also covered the penalty kick, with the French newspaper calling the penalty “imaginary.”
Spanish outlet Marca also covered the penalty, calling it embarrassing and asserting saying that the ball did not touch the player’s hand.
Fans and online commenters have accused VAR staff and broadcasters of showing the ball touch that resulted in the penalty from a “deceiving” angle, that potentially showed the ball touching the player’s hand, but without showing alternate angles to verify this.
The two teams will face off again in the second leg in Casablanca, where Raja is hoping to use its home advantage to recuperate the loss and qualify to the semi-finals of the tournament.
