African football's governing body, CAF, will launch an investigation into the events of the Confederation Cup final between Tunisian Etoile Sahel and FAR Rabat of Morocco last Saturday. South African referee David Bennett and his linesman Toko Malebo were assaulted by players from the Moroccan side who were denied a stoppage time goal in the second-leg the took place in Sousse, Tunisia. Etoile, who held FAR to a 1-1 draw in the first-leg in Rabat, were crowned Confederation Cup winners after the game ended in a goalless draw, benefiting from the away goals system. "We have received a preliminary report from the referee on the incident during yesterday's game," CAF spokesman Suleiman Habuba told BBC Sport on Sunday.
Bennett being surrounded by security forces "We will open a full investigation into the incident as soon as the full report from the match commissioner is received." Brahim El Bahri of the Royal Armed Forces had his close range effort denied by linesman Malebo for an offside, triggering an all out attack from the Moroccan players. Security forces rushed to Malebo's rescue but the fighting was extended to the sidelines and on to the pitch where referee Bennett was attacked. Bennett resumed the game for another one minute after things settled down before blowing the final whistle that announced Etoile as champions.
