Cintia A. , Lebledparle.com
Punishment for improper conduct
These penalties are a response to several unfortunate incidents that happened during recent matches, as reported by Lebledparle.com. The most common violations included:
Stadium violence: Supporters from clubs such as CS Sfaxien, USM Alger, CR Belouizdad, and FAR Rabat were involved in throwing projectiles, pitch invasions, and using flares.
Security lapses: Equatorial Guinea faced sanctions due to security issues during a match.
Misconduct by officials: Libya was penalized for the inappropriate behavior of one of its officials.
Non-compliance with regulations: Benin was fined for failing to cooperate with CAF.
Heavy fines and closed-door matches
CAF’s sanctions come with significant consequences as the clubs and federations involved are required to pay fines of up to $50,000. Additionally, some teams will have to play matches behind closed doors. These actions emphasize CAF’s commitment to fair play and strict adherence to regulations, reinforcing that violations will not be tolerated.
These measures serve as a wake-up call for all stakeholders in African football. Clubs, federations, supporters, and officials must work together to ensure smooth competitions and protect the reputation of African football.
Here are the details of the penalties as outlined in CAF’s statement:
Equatorial Guinea: A $25,000 suspended fine plus an additional $5,000 fine for security issues and pitch invasions during a qualifier against Togo.
Libya: A $50,000 fine and two matches behind closed doors due to misconduct by a supporter and an official during the qualifier against Benin.
Benin: A $5,000 fine for non-compliance with CAF regulations, along with a $50,000 fine (partially suspended) for official misconduct during the match against Rwanda.
Tanzania and Guinea: The Guinean Federation’s complaint regarding their qualification was dismissed, confirming Tanzania’s 1-0 win on November 19.
CS Sfaxien: A $20,000 fine (partially suspended) for supporters’ use of pyrotechnics during a match against CS Constantine.
USM Alger: A $10,000 fine (partially suspended) for supporters using flares during a match against Orapa United.
CR Belouizdad: A $10,000 fine (partially suspended) for the use of flares by supporters during a match against Orlando Pirates.
FAR Rabat: A $15,000 fine for a fan’s use of flares and lasers during a match against Mamelodi Sundowns.
