Zamalek file CAF complaint and demand immediate VAR use

Zamalek’s board has decided to submit an official complaint to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) over what it calls “refereeing errors” in the 1-1 draw away to South Africa’s Kaizer Chiefs in the CAF Confederation Cup group stage.

The club’s statement targets the Rwandan officiating crew led by Samuel Uwikunda, accusing them of failing to award a “clear penalty” for Chico Banza, wrongly disallowing a goal by Seifeddine Jaziri, and excessively booking Zamalek players in ways that “negatively affected the flow of the match.”

In its message to CAF, Zamalek demanded that “referees with competence and experience” be appointed to reduce decisive mistakes, and urged the immediate introduction of VAR from the third round of the group stage, arguing that the absence of the technology “harms the integrity of the competition and leaves crucial decisions solely at the discretion of referees.”

On the pitch, Zamalek had taken the lead in the third minute through Tunisian striker Jaziri, but Kaizer Chiefs snatched a dramatic equaliser in the 96th minute when a cross was turned into his own net by goalkeeper Mohamed Sobhi.

The late blow meant the Cairo side dropped two important points, further fuelling anger inside the club and prompting the call for structural refereeing changes in CAF tournaments.