By David Gold
August 28 – Tunisian outfit Étoile du Sahel have been ejected from Africa’s Champions League after crowd disturbances during their losing match to compatriots Espérance earlier this month.
Étoile faced Espérance in the Mediterranean resort of Sousse in a match that only their fans were allowed to attend because of security concerns.
Tunisian football has been predominantly played behind closed doors due to fears of crowd violence since the country’s revolution.
But after Karim Aouadhi and Yannick N’Djeng (pictured below, number 15) scored for Espérance, Étoile fans streamed onto the field (pictured above), forcing police to use teargas to disperse them.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) cited article seven of the African Champions League regulations, which stipulates that in the event of pitch invasions or aggression against visiting teams, the home side is considered to have lost the game and must be eliminated from the competition, making Étoile the first team to be expelled from the tournament during the group stage.
CAF also ruled that all previous results involving Étoile in the group are to be nullified.
As a result of Étoile’s disqualification, Espérance and Nigeria’s Sunshine Stars have now qualified from Group A.
Étoile, who won the Champions League in 2007, could now face a two-year suspension from the competition.
The winner of the tournament will book a place alongside Copa Libertadores champions Corinthians and European champions Chelsea at the Club World Cup in Japan in December.
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