Wydad Contest Disallowed Goal Against Kawkab and Demand Urgent VAR Investigation
Wydad Athletic Club have expressed their strong surprise and categorical rejection of the refereeing decision that disallowed a goal they described as "legitimate", during the match against Kawkab of Marrakech in the sixteenth round of the professional league, following the intervention of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
The red club explained, in an official statement, that after a careful review of the incident by its technical committee, it became clear that the goal was valid and that the player was not in an offside position, but rather in a fully legal position at the moment of scoring, considering that the decision to disallow it lacks justification.
Wydad confirmed that they had formally contacted the National Professional Football League, demanding the opening of an urgent investigation to determine responsibilities and uncover the circumstances of this decision, which sparked considerable controversy.
The club raised a number of observations, the most notable being that the VAR intervention in this case was not sound and led to an erroneous decision that directly affected the outcome of the match, pointing out that the lack of accuracy in assessing such situations raises questions about the quality of the technology's use.
It also stressed that the recurrence of such errors, despite the reliance on video technology, is unacceptable and undermines the principle of equal opportunity and the integrity of the competition.
In conclusion of its statement, Wydad Athletic strongly condemned this decision, reiterating its demand for official clarifications to the footballing public, and called for a review of the methodology of using VAR in a way that ensures refereeing justice, while affirming that it reserves all its rights to take the necessary measures to defend its interests, with respect for the institutions and pending whatever is required to protect the credibility of refereeing and the integrity of the competition.
