The President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Dr. Patrice Motsepe, has pledged firm action to tackle the growing issue of match-related violence across stadiums in Africa.
Incidents of hooliganism have been increasing across the continent, with one of the most tragic examples occurring in Guinea last December, where clashes led to several fatalities. In a particularly devastating incident, more than 50 lives were reportedly lost during violent clashes between fans of Esperança and Mamelodi Sundowns at a CAF Champions League match in South Africa.
Speaking during a media briefing in Accra on Friday, Dr. Motsepe emphasized CAF’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that stadiums remain safe spaces for all spectators.
“CAF is steadfastly committed to ensuring that stadiums are environments where our football fans, supporters, and spectators feel safe and comfortable — including from a health standpoint,” he said.
Highlighting the Confederation’s zero-tolerance approach, Dr. Motsepe stressed that any injury or fatality at a football stadium is completely unacceptable.
“Even a single injury is something we never want to experience,” he said. “And even more so, the loss of a single life is something we must take every possible precaution to prevent.”
He further revealed that CAF is conducting a comprehensive review of international best practices aimed at enhancing stadium safety across Africa.
“Our starting point is to examine what other countries are doing successfully,” Dr. Motsepe explained. “We are studying where and how the safest stadium environments have been created for fans.”
CAF’s Secretariat, he added, is spearheading engagements with safety and security experts from Europe and beyond, with the aim of adopting proven measures to maintain order at football matches.
“The process is ongoing,” he assured. “Our determination and commitment to this cause are deep and unwavering.”
