The Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Dr. Patrice Motsepe says he thought the strike of Young Africans SC star Stephane Azizi Ki was a goal against Mamelodi Sundowns.
Dr. Motsepe was speaking in Tanzania this week at CAF Schools Football Championship when he was asked by local media about the controversial incident in the CAF Champions League this season.
Aziz Ki’s strike was adjudged to have not crossed the line which brought about several varying opinions from former and current officials in the game while the Video Assistant Refereeing (VAR) system came under scrutiny.
While VAR was near flawless at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Motsepe insisted that it’s important they endeavour for world-class standards in Africa.
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“I told the President Wallace [Karia] when we met after the match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Young Africans and I said, I thought it was a goal,” Motsepe said.
“Now the President of CAF is not supposed to comment, but you know… I have to respect all the processes and procedures – but if I look as a football fan, it was a goal.
“But of course, we have to follow and respect the rules, the VAR, but I think the key issue for us is always to… the supporters have to have confidence. At the end of the day, it is the perceptions of supporters and their views that are very important.
“We are committed to making sure the integrity, the independence of referees, match commissioners, VAR is world class and also to make sure we invest a lot of money because today is about investing in our future and investing in our youth.”
Yanga is currently under a ban by FIFA from making transfers over irregularities with their player registration.
