AS FAR coach Alexander Santos has criticised the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision to bar club fans from attending two home matches, including their upcoming clash against Tanzania’s Young Africans on Saturday in the fifth round of the CAF Champions League group stage.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Santos described playing behind closed doors as a “harsh punishment,” highlighting the vital role Royal Army supporters play in motivating the team on the field.
“I don’t like playing a match without fans, and for us, this is a big punishment,” Santos said. “While our team suffers, other teams are reaping the benefits.”
The coach argued that the ruling was unfair, noting that alternative measures could have been considered rather than depriving fans of attending games.
He added that many incidents across African football are handled inconsistently.
CAF imposed the sanctions on AS FAR following riots during their recent match against Egypt’s Al-Ahly in this season’s Champions League. The penalties include two home games without spectators and a $100,000 fine.
