The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has imposed significant sanctions on several top clubs, including MC Alger, USM Alger, AS FAR Rabat, and Mamelodi Sundowns, following a review of disciplinary breaches during the quarter-finals of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup.
In a move reflecting CAF’s tougher stance on crowd trouble and misconduct, disciplinary actions were handed down after incidents marred both legs of the knockout ties.
The sanctions, outlined by CAF in a formal statement, varied in severity depending on the nature of the infractions.
Stadium bans and financial penalties
AS FAR Rabat have been slapped with a $20,000 fine (approximately €17,500) and a one-year suspended stadium closure after fan misconduct, including the use of laser pointers, during their second-leg Champions League tie against Egypt’s Pyramids FC on 8 April.
Their Egyptian opponents were also fined $15,000 (around €13,100) for lapses in ticketing and crowd control during the first leg on 1 April.
USM Alger received a $25,000 fine (nearly €22,000) and a one-year suspended ban from hosting matches with fans due to violations of the CAF Disciplinary Code and Security Regulations in their Confederation Cup encounter with CS Constantine on 2 April.
Constantine themselves were handed a €13,000 penalty for their supporters’ use of smoke bombs.
Additionally, the club must pay an outstanding €8,000 fine from a prior disciplinary ruling in December 2024.
MC Alger received one of the harshest punishments.
The Algerian side must play their next two continental home matches behind closed doors and pay a fine of approximately €35,173.
These sanctions stem from crowd misconduct, including the use of smoke bombs, laser pointers, and object-throwing during their first-leg clash against Orlando Pirates on 1 April.
Wider disciplinary fallout
USM Alger’s problems extended beyond the pitch.
Following the second leg on 9 April, the club was fined an additional €88,000 for unsporting behavior from its staff and players.
Assistant coach Mohamed Khazrouni was suspended for four matches without reprieve and fined roughly €13,000, while central defender Abdelkader Menezla received a two-match suspended ban.
Orlando Pirates president Ezekiel Matebula was also sanctioned, receiving a four-match ban, with two suspended pending good conduct over a year.
Sanctions touch Motsepe’s Mamelodi Sundowns
Tunisian outfit Espérance de Tunis incurred a significant penalty of over €131,000 due to the actions of their supporters during their quarter-final first leg against Mamelodi Sundowns on 1 April.
Even Mamelodi Sundowns, owned by CAF President Patrice Motsepe, were not spared.
The South African club must pay more than €87,000 and adhere strictly to CAF’s security regulations in future fixtures.
Though their supporters were found to have misbehaved during the same match, Sundowns escaped harsher punishment.
The sweeping disciplinary measures underscore CAF’s intent to crack down on indiscipline and reinforce its commitment to upholding matchday standards across African football.
La CAF a infligé une amende de 100 000 dollars au club de son président, le Mamelodi Sundows @Masandawana à la suite de violents affrontements entre supporters lors d’un match de la Ligue des champions d’Afrique #TotalEnergiesCAFCL . pic.twitter.com/QHgsEQHi0T
— Lassana Camara (@mauritaniefoot) April 18, 2025
