The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has slammed the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and SuperSport after they were excluded from the rights for the Champions League final.
SABC confirmed on Friday morning that they will not be able to broadcast the final of Africa's elite club competition despite having broadcasted the games for most of the campaign with free-to-air rights.
It's been confirmed that CAF sold the exclusive rights to the once-off final between Kaizer Chiefs and Pitso Mosimane's Al Ahly to SuperSport, leaving a blackout for the public broadcaster.
"It's simply cannot be in the public interest for CAF and SuperSport to contractually exclude millions of non-pay-TV subscribers from watching this game," read part of the statement.
"Furthermore, it is disreputable for a pay-TV broadcaster to acquire free-to-air rights with the intention of blocking free-to-air broadcasters from using those rights.
"At a time when economic exclusion is the biggest issue facing South Africa, not only does this deal between CAF and SuperSport perpetuate the divide in our society but it shows scant regard for the issues facing our people."
The statement continued: "The failure of ICASA's Sporting Rights regulations to deal with this situation means the public broadcaster has no recourse to the regulator even though broadcasting the CAF Champions League Final - involving one of South Africa's biggest clubs - is clearly part of SABC's public mandate.
"This is a very sad day for Kaizer Chiefs fans and all football lovers in South Africa when CAF, the custodian of the people's game on the African continent, agrees to exclude millions of people who cannot afford pay-TV.
"Despite this unfortunate outcome driven by two parties who do not have public service obligations, and clearly do not have the poor's interest at heart, the SABC remains committed to bringing big sporting events to all South Africans."
Chiefs and Ahly do battle at the Stade Mohamed V on Saturday with no fans set to attend the clash for Africa's most coveted club title.