Libya channel officially apologises to Esperance after Souihli match controversy

Libya Sports Channel has issued an official apology to Tunisian club Espérance today, Tuesday, following the controversy surrounding its coverage of the match between Al-Suwaihli and Espérance in the first leg of the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League, which ended with the Libyan team winning by a goal to nil.

The crisis erupted on Sunday evening following comments made during the match broadcast and the accompanying analysis studio, sparking a wave of anger in Tunisian sports circles. This was due to accusations directed at Espérance de Tunis regarding its benefit from refereeing decisions and its exploitation of influence within the Confederation of African Football to sway referees.

Criticism has not only been limited to the technical analysis of the match, as commentator Mohamed Abdel Wahab used phrases that upset officials of the Tunisian club and targeted some of its players, including goalkeeper Bashir Ben Saïd. The analysis studio also witnessed statements described as offensive, which included serious accusations against the team.

In its first official response to the incident, Espérance expressed its dissatisfaction with the statements and allegations that accompanied the match broadcast, and hinted at banning the channel from airing the return leg, in protest against what it considered an insult to the club and accusations related to exerting pressure on referees and influencing the course of matches.

Shortly after the situation involving Espérance, Libya Sports Channel released an official statement confirming its respect for the Tunisian club and appreciation for its history and sporting stature. The statement emphasized the deep fraternal and historical relations that bind the Libyan and Tunisian peoples, as well as the role of sports in strengthening the bonds of love and brotherhood between them.

The channel acknowledged a professional error during the match description, mistakenly identifying goalkeeper Bashir Ben Saïd as a correspondent for Esperance. It confirmed that the incident contradicts the professional standards it adheres to, and that acknowledging the mistake, correcting it, and apologizing is a duty imposed by the ethics of the profession and the responsibility of media work.

The channel's management clarified that the opinions and comments made by sports analysts and guests reflect their own views and do not necessarily represent the official position of the media institution. It pointed out that this principle is applied in sports and non-sports media institutions in Libya and Tunisia.

The match between Espérance and Al-Suwaihli is set to take place on Saturday, October 24, at the Olympic Stadium in Rades, in a decisive second leg for a place in the group stage of the CAF Champions League.