Orlando Pirates have seen salt rubbed on the wound DRC side Saint Eloi Lupopo left on them last month.
Lupopo beat Pirates in a two-legged affair of the CAF Champions League preliminary stages but not without protest.
Pirates and Lupopo lodge appeals
Pirates lodged a complaint to African football mother body CAF about alleged faulty registration of two Lupopo players. They then raised a further appeal over the DRC side’s coach Guy Bukasa’s eligibility to be on the dugout in their clashes. This comes after the coach was slapped with a ban while still incharge of the his country’s U20 side. Ironically, that came after an altercation with the South African U20 side at Afcon.
But this appeal came after Pirates had cited bad treatment from Lupopo while contesting the first leg in the DRC. The home side then lodged a complaint of their own saying that the Buccaneers had used chemicals on their dressing room. They then also argued that some of their team members were robbed accreditation for the away fixture.
Now according to Lupopo, CAF has ruled in their favour and slapped Pirates with punishment.
CAF favours DRC side
“Furthermore, following the complaint from our club against Orlando Pirates, the CAF has imposed financial sanctions on the South African club:
• $5,000 for depriving FC Saint Eloi Lupopo of the necessary accreditations.
• $20,000 for spraying chemical products in the locker rooms of our team.
This decision reinforces the victory obtained on the field and strengthens the position of our club in the competition. FC Saint-Éloi Lupopo will continue to defend its interests with the utmost determination.
Dircom
FC Saint Eloi Lupopo” wrote the club on their official X account.
This added further insult to the fact that CAF already dismissed Pirates’ appeal against Lupopo. Now the Sea Robbers will not find their way back into the group stages, while taking a further hit financially.
Fair or unfair on the Buccaneers?
Pirates fans, how do you feel about the CAF ruling in favour of Lupopo? Feel free to leave your thoughts and feelings in the comments below.