Alexandre Santos, head coach of Moroccan giants AS FAR, has blasted the Confederation of African Football for banning his team’s fans from their next two home matches in the CAF Champions League.
The punishment comes ahead of a crucial Group Stage showdown in Rabat against Tanzanian side Young Africans, leaving the army club without its famously passionate support.
Speaking at his pre match press conference, Santos described playing behind closed doors as “a harsh punishment,” stressing that AS FAR’s fans are known for their intensity and positive impact in the stands. He admitted he dislikes any game without supporters and argued that while his club is being sanctioned, other teams indirectly benefit from the decision.
The Portuguese coach also questioned the fairness of CAF’s disciplinary approach, insisting there were alternative measures available that did not involve excluding fans from the stadium. He pointed out that many incidents occur across the continent without receiving similar treatment, suggesting an inconsistent application of the rules.
CAF’s decision follows crowd trouble during AS FAR’s recent home clash with Egyptian champions Al Ahly in the current Champions League edition, which led to the two match spectator ban and a 100,000 dollar fine for the Moroccan club.
