The officiating team of Alioum Siddi,Mekouande Evariste and Elvis Noupoue all from Cameroon survived violence orchastrated by Ismaily fans on Friday Evening in Cairo.
All seemed to be going well when Namibian,Benson Chilongo gave home side, Ismaily SC the lead in the Pool C All north African clash, pitting Ismaily of Egypt to Club Africain of Tunisia.But Drama ensued when Referee, Alioum from Cameroon pointed to the spot twice in the last 5 minutes before Half time to award two penalties to visitors, Club Africain.Both penalties were converted by Ayadi Ghazi.
The second penalty provoked the first incidence of violence from Ismaily SC fans.Referee Alioum Siddi had initially awarded a free kick before overruling his decision to award a penalty from the same action, following a conversation with his assistant.
Fans of Ismaily expressed their disgust to the decision by throwing bottles and other objects into the field.
The second half of the game was forced to begin 10 minutes after the programmed time but things didn’t get any better.
The half was interrupted on many occasions by Ismaily fans who targeted both assistant referees and violently threw bottles and other objects towards the assistant referees.
The incident continued through out the second half until it got an unbearable proportion.
The many stoppages caused by crowd trouble and the objects thrown on the pitch forced the assistant referees off their positions in most occasions.Referee Alioum Siddi was forced to close the game pre-maturely in the 83rd due to the multiple projectiles thrown by the Ismaily fans.
The game stopped prematurely with Club Africain leading by 1 goal to 2. CAF Regulations are clear in such cases;
CAF’s dictate that if a match is interrupted because of pitch invasion or aggression against the visiting team, the hosts shall be considered the loser of the match and be expelled from the competition.
The officiating team was taken out of the pitch by a huge team of security officers.
Therefore, one of Egypt’s representatives at this season’s CAF Champions league, Ismaily SC,risk been expelled from this season’s elite CAF club competition after just two games.
Egypt host the first ever 24 Nations African Cup of Nations in June and July, such scenes doesn’t help the image of the country on the eve of such a big football party.
It is not the first time in recent years that fans have caused such scenes in football games in Egypt.
Angu Lesley
