CAF Disciplinary Committee to Address Crisis Following Esperance vs. Mamelodi Sundowns Match
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Disciplinary Committee is set to convene on Thursday to discuss the fallout from the CAF Champions League quarter-final match between Esperance Sportive de Tunis and Mamelodi Sundowns. The match, which saw violent clashes between fans of both teams, has raised serious concerns, particularly after three Esperance fans were hospitalised following the incidents.
According to the Tunisian newspaper Al Sabah, the CAF Disciplinary Committee will review the events of the match and deliberate on potential penalties or sanctions. The meeting is expected to take place before the return leg, which is scheduled to be held at the Stade Olympique de Tunis.
Violence Erupts in the Stands
The match between Esperance and Sundowns was marred by a violent altercation between the two fan groups. A particularly alarming incident involved a Tunisian fan who was nearly killed after hanging from a high spot in the stands. The situation was only diffused when a South African supporter intervened and saved the fan.
Reports suggest that Esperance management has compiled a detailed report on the events of the match, intending to file an official complaint with CAF. The club’s actions are aimed at ensuring that the incident is thoroughly investigated and that appropriate measures are taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Sundowns Apologise and Await CAF’s Investigation
In response to the violent clashes, Mamelodi Sundowns issued an official apology to Esperance Sportive de Tunis and its supporters. The South African club expressed their sadness over the unfortunate events and reassured the public of their commitment to cooperating with CAF’s investigation.
Sundowns also stated that they are awaiting a full report from the match commissioner, which will help them better understand the circumstances surrounding the unruly behaviour at the stadium. The club added that, despite the presence of video clips and other factual evidence, they still felt compelled to apologise to Esperance and their fans, as the incidents occurred on their home turf.
“We are confident that the investigation will uncover the circumstances surrounding this unruly behaviour. However, we are required to apologise to Esperance Sportive de Tunis and its fans, as this unruly behaviour occurred at our stadium, despite the existence of video clips and factual evidence,” the statement read.
What’s Next?
As the CAF Disciplinary Committee prepares for Thursday’s meeting, all eyes will be on the outcome of the investigation and any potential sanctions that may arise. The incident has raised serious concerns about fan safety and the conduct of supporters during high-stakes continental matches.
With the second leg of the quarter-final approaching, both clubs will be keen to resolve the issue before the match at the Stade Olympique de Tunis. As the investigation progresses, it remains to be seen what actions CAF will take to ensure that such incidents do not tarnish the spirit of African club football in the future.
