VAR was supposed to be used in that, too, and would have been of tremendous benefit to Wydad Casablanca after their equaliser against Espérance was chalked off for an incorrect offside. But despite intense lobbying by Wydad staff and players, the referee refused to consult Var – apparently because he couldn’t: the company that provides the technology claimed they told organisers before the game that airlines had lost some of their equipment in transit so Var would not be operational for the match, a detail that the organisers allegedly did not disclose to the teams beforehand. So after the non-goal, play was stopped as players and officials argued on the pitch and sidelines for an hour and a half before Wydad announced they had no faith in the organisers and would not play. So Espérance won on a walkover. Let’s have none of that carry-on today please!
