Crowd disturbances overshadowed the 0-0 draw between Al Ahly and AS FAR on Saturday at Cairo International Stadium, in the final round of the group stage of the CAF Champions League.
AS FAR players were subjected to bottle-throwing and other projectiles from sections of the home crowd as they headed to the locker room at halftime, with one object striking winger Ahmed Hammoudan, according to team officials. The incidents drew condemnation from Moroccan supporters, who described the scenes as damaging to the image of African football.
Tensions also spilled into the stands, where visiting AS FAR supporters reported being assaulted, both by some Al Ahly fans and during security interventions, amid what witnesses described as poorly controlled conditions.
On the pitch, the match itself was marked by several confrontations between players, prompting the referee to issue yellow cards to Rabiâ Hrimat of AS FAR and Taher Mohamed of Al Ahly.
The incidents revived debate over disciplinary consistency within the Confederation of African Football. Earlier in the competition, AS FAR were sanctioned to play two continental home matches behind closed doors and fined $100,000 following crowd-related incidents during the first-leg meeting with Al Ahly in Morocco.
CAF’s disciplinary bodies are now expected to review reports from the Cairo match, as pressure mounts for decisions that ensure player safety and equal treatment for visiting teams.
Despite the incidents, both Al Ahly and AS FAR secured qualification to the quarterfinals. Young Africans and JS Kabylie were eliminated.
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