By Andrew Warshaw
November 15 – Sunday’s eagerly awaited African Champions League final second leg between Esperance of Tunisia and Egypt’s Al Ahly will have a restricted crowd of 35,000 due to fears of fan violence.
Esperance are poised to take the title on home soil after a 1-1 first-leg draw but the 65,000-capacity Rades Stadium will be virtually half-full.
Ever since the “Arab Spring” two years ago, football stadiums in several countries have represented a target for civil unrest.
Most domestic league matches in Tunisia have been staged behind closed doors in recent months but the country’s Interior Ministry has partially relented for the biggest club game in African football.
Initially only 27,000 tickets were allowed to be sold for Sunday’s (November 18) fixture but that number has been increased after complaints from the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
In 2010, after their team had lost in the Champions League final, Esperance fans (pictured top) threw missiles onto the pitch and during the post-match presentation.
And last year, teargas was fired by police to stop fighting between Esperance supporters and those of beaten finalists Wydad Casablanca of Morocco.
Only four months ago, Tunisia’s other representatives in the competition, Étoile du Sahel, were kicked out after rioting fans caused the abandonment of a group match.
Sunday’s game means more than just local pride.
Whoever wins the title will pocket a healthy amount of prize money, as well as earn a place at the forthcoming FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.
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