TP Mazembe slams Lubumbashi derby chaos, threatens legal war over stadium destruction

Tout Puissant Mazembe has issued a blistering demand for legal and disciplinary action following the abandonment of the Lubumbashi derby against FC Saint-Éloi Lupopo on Sunday.

The club cited “unprecedented gravity” and the systematic destruction of the only FIFA-approved stadium in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In a formal statement released March 9, 2026, the club’s General Secretary, Frédéric Kitengie Kinkumbi, called upon national and international sports authorities to impose severe sanctions after a wave of hooliganism forced the definitive stoppage of the high-stakes match.

The “Ravens” are demanding full financial restitution for a staggering list of damages, including the destruction of over 500 stadium seats, the stoning of private vehicles, and the tearing down of security perimeters.

Mazembe’s management has officially petitioned the Ligue Nationale de Football (LINAFOOT) and the Congolese Football Federation to establish immediate accountability for the perpetrators and instigators.

The club confirmed it has handed over comprehensive surveillance footage to judicial bodies, documenting what they described as a “total chaos” that saw supporters invade the pitch to perform fetishistic rituals and vandalize the facilities.

This escalation marks a historic low in the fierce rivalry between the two Katangese giants. Historically, TP Mazembe’s TP Mazembe Stadium has served as a rare beacon of modern infrastructure in Central Africa, often loaned to rival clubs, including Lupopo, for their own CAF continental fixtures.

Mazembe’s leadership highlighted this “moral betrayal,” noting that the destruction comes just one week before the venue is scheduled to host a major African competition match.

The club warned that the violence has not only damaged physical property but has “dishonored” the image of Congolese football on the global stage.

Beyond mere stadium bans, the call to action seeks “full and immediate repair” and compensation for several individuals injured during the riots.

By framing the incident as an attack on private investment that serves the public good, Mazembe is positioning this legal battle as a turning point for security standards in the DRC’s top flight.

The club concluded its ultimatum by reserving the right to pursue further criminal proceedings, vowing to defend its interests with “rigor and determination” to ensure the stadium does not become a permanent “field of ruins.”