The African football governing body issued a formal statement on Monday condemning “unacceptable events” that occurred during the match, affirming that the case has been referred to the disciplinary committee for legal and appropriate measures against the responsible parties.
This decision followed the Royal Army Club’s filing of a formal complaint with CAF, protesting the harassment and violations suffered by their delegation and fans during the encounter. African sports circles are closely monitoring the decisions expected from the disciplinary committee, which may include financial sanctions or stadium bans for upcoming rounds, given the match’s significance in the group standings.
CAF emphasized in its statement the necessity of adhering to sportsmanship and ensuring the safety of all participants in continental competitions, urging organizing clubs to provide adequate protection for away teams to prevent such investigations in the future.
The match ended in a goalless draw, allowing both teams to advance to the quarter-finals of the continent’s premier club competition.
The match saw interruptions in the second half due to the throwing of projectiles and empty water bottles by Al Ahly fans. Reports indicate that Royal Army fans attempted to invade the pitch following a clash between players. Additionally, a Moroccan sports outlet reported that fans attacked Royal Army players exiting the locker room after the first half, supported by video evidence.
Looking back at the return leg held in Morocco in November, a severe crisis erupted between players after a sharp object was thrown at Al Ahly’s Mahmoud Hassan Trézéguet, leading to a brief fight over the object. The referee intervened after Al Ahly’s director of football, Waleed Salah El-Din, secured the object. However, a Royal Army player subsequently snatched it and left the pitch amidst tension.
The second half witnessed repeated protests from Royal Army fans against referee decisions, with large quantities of glass bottles thrown onto the pitch, particularly in the final minutes, causing chaos. During Al Ahly’s final attack, balls were thrown from the stands towards players Ahmed Said Zizo and Emam Ashour in an attempt to halt the counter-attack.
The disciplinary committee decided to impose a stadium ban on the Royal Army Club for their upcoming home matches, alongside a total fine of $100,000. The breakdown includes $20,000 for laser use, $15,000 for throwing water bottles, $15,000 for entering balls onto the field, and $50,000 for throwing a dangerous iron object deemed a threat to player and referee safety. The committee confirmed violations of Articles 82, 83, and 32 of CAF’s disciplinary code and safety regulations. The club is required to pay the total fines within 60 days of the notification.
