Fan death, crowd trouble mar CAF Champions league ties in North Africa

AFP

Casablanca authorities have opened an investigation after a fan died outside the gates of the Stade Mohammed V before Raja's match against Al-Ahly in the CAF Champions League quarter-finals on Saturday.

Moroccan media reported that the fan, a 29-year-old woman, died in the crush as thousands of fans tried to get into the ground to watch Raja try and overturn a 2-0 deficit from the first leg in Egypt.

"Aziz El Badrawy, President of Al-Raja Club Athletic, in his name and on behalf of all members of the club, extends his deepest condolences to the family of the fan, Noura, who passed away before our team's match against Al-Ahly," the Moroccan club said in a statement.

Another CAF Champions League quarter-final between Esperance and Algeria's JS Kabylie in Tunis on Saturday was marred by crowd trouble, which caused a 40-minute delay to the second half.

Esperance fans clashed with Tunisian security forces and lit fireworks on the terraces at halftime of the tie at Rades Stadium. Firefighters had to be called out to extinguish several small fires in front of the stands.

Algerian fans also complained that they had been subjected to unjustified attacks by security forces.

The match ended in a 1-1, draw but Esperance progressed to the semi-finals 2-1 aggregate after a 1-0 victory in the first leg.

They will face Al-Ahly over two legs for a place in the final after the Cairo club held Raja to a 0-0 draw in Casablanca.

Raja's city rivals Wydad, the reigning champions, will face South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns in the other semi-final next month.

More from Sports News

News

  • Dubai Police spearhead global fraud crackdown

    Dubai Police have led a major international operation targeting transnational financial crime, resulting in the arrest of 276 suspects and the dismantling of nine criminal centres linked to investment fraud and virtual currency scams.

  • UAE leaders hold talks with Bahrain King

    UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain on Wednesday, in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court.

  • UAE's National Anti-Narcotics Authority busts international drug gang

    The UAE’s National Anti-Narcotics Authority has announced the dismantling of a criminal gang involved in drug trafficking and distribution, following a month-long joint operation with Dubai Police, Sharjah Police and authorities in Bahrain.