CAFCL: Beaumelle slams officiating after Esperance exit at Loftus

Esperance Sportive de Tunis head coach Patrice Beaumelle did not hold back following his side’s CAF Champions League exit, launching a scathing assessment of the match officials after a 1-0 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday night.

Despite a spirited effort at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, the Tunisian powerhouse fell to a solitary strike from Brayan Leon, sealing a 2-0 aggregate victory for the South African champions. While the result sends “Masandawana” to their second consecutive continental final, the post-match discourse was dominated by Beaumelle’s frustration with Somali referee Omar Artan.

Esperance Boss Beaumelle Labels CAFCL Semi-Final Refereeing a “Disaster”

Speaking to the media after the final whistle, a visibly disappointed Beaumelle praised the atmosphere and the quality of play from both sides but insisted the officiating failed to match the occasion.

“It’s a shame that once again a referee’s decision killed the game,” Beaumelle told SABC Sport. “For me, it’s a disaster. This is where Africa must improve because it’s always a matter of referees.”

The Frenchman suggested that the magnitude of a Champions League semi-final required a higher calibre of officiating than what was on display in Pretoria.

The match was a high-stakes tactical chess match, played in front of a capacity crowd featuring travelling Esperance ultras and a sea of yellow Sundowns supporters. While Sundowns managed to replicate their 1-0 first-leg success, Beaumelle felt the flow of the game was compromised.

Despite his grievances with the man in the middle, Beaumelle remained professional regarding his opponents and his own squad’s performance.

“I’m very proud that it was a good game,” he noted. “Well done to my boys; we played very well. I wish the best of luck to Sundowns in the final.”

With this victory, Mamelodi Sundowns continue their pursuit of a second star, while Esperance returns to Tunis left to wonder what might have been had the officiating gone their way. The Tshwane giants will face Moroccan side AS FAR in the final.