CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – CARTERON SLAMS REFEREEING AFTER TP MAZEMBE’S DEFEAT TO AL HILAL
Patrice Carteron did not hold back his frustration following TP Mazembe’s 1-0 defeat to Al Hilal in the CAF Champions League on Sunday. The French coach openly criticized the referee’s performance, blaming him for what he called an “unjust result.”
Carteron was particularly incensed by a controversial moment in the final minutes, when Roger Claver Assale was tackled from behind in the box – a challenge that, according to the coach, should have been a clear penalty.
“It’s a shame, such refereeing… Assale was mowed down from behind in the last minute, and the referee whistled against him! As I speak, he has leg problems. It was a more than flagrant penalty,” Carteron told the club’s official website.
He further accused the referee of consistently one-sided decisions, adding:
“It is really the referee, through his decisions, who totally influenced the final result. It is difficult to remain calm when you see such injustice.”
Carteron also lamented the visibility of such refereeing blunders on major platforms:
“When the match is broadcast on BeIN Sport, LC2, SABC1, and others, it’s a shame to see this.”
Despite his disappointment, the TP Mazembe coach emphasized the importance of accepting the result, however “difficult to digest” it may be. Nonetheless, he warned that Al Hilal will not win the competition this way, hinting at broader concerns regarding officiating in the tournament.
