Who Protects Al Ahly Fans Within CAF?
Incidents during the match between Egypt's Al Ahly and AS FAR, in the final round of the CAF Champions League group stage, have reignited controversy surrounding the behavior of some Al Ahly fans. These fans threw bottles and various projectiles at AS FAR players, both during the match and after the first half, in scenes that drew widespread condemnation and raised questions about the commitment of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Disciplinary Committee to strictly enforce its regulations.
This incident was not isolated, as such behavior has become recurrent in Al Ahly's continental matches, reflecting a clear pattern. Similar occurrences have been recorded on previous occasions, often without commensurate penalties for the severity of the actions committed. This raises significant questions about who is protecting these fans within the continental football body's mechanisms.
The 2023 CAF Champions League final first leg against Wydad AC also witnessed similar incidents, with Moroccan players being pelted with bottles after the match, causing significant outrage at the time. However, those events did not prevent the repetition of such scenes in subsequent matches, as seen again in the encounter with AS FAR.
These repeated incidents raise serious questions about the enforcement of the deterrence principle within CAF's bodies, especially given that the confederation's regulations are clear regarding the need to protect players and ensure their safety inside stadiums. This places the Disciplinary Committee before a new test of its ability to enforce respect for the rules, free from any other considerations, in order to preserve the credibility of African competitions and the principle of equal opportunities among clubs.
Observers are awaiting the anticipated decision of the Disciplinary Committee, as calls intensify for firm action against such behavior and an end to the leniency that has encouraged its recurrence. This is crucial to ensure the protection of visiting clubs and uphold the principle of justice within competitions overseen by the Confederation of African Football.
