Training at EGS Gafsa was abruptly disrupted on Tuesday afternoon as furious supporters, reeling from the club’s relegation to Tunisia’s Ligue 2, prevented the players from taking to the pitch.
The protest unfolded just days after Gafsa’s decisive 1-0 loss to AS Gabès, a defeat that sealed the club’s relegation ahead of the final round of the Ligue 1 season.
With emotions running high, a group of disillusioned fans descended on the training ground, blocking the session in full view of head coach Skander Kasri and his technical staff, who were powerless to intervene.
The loss to AS Gabès on Saturday was not just another result—it was the culmination of a season marred by inconsistency and squandered opportunities.
That defeat, which came in a critical clash between direct relegation rivals, ensured that EGS Gafsa would return to the second tier after failing to secure their top-flight status with just one game remaining.
For many supporters, the manner of the club’s downfall has proved too difficult to accept.
Tuesday’s incident reflects a broader sense of frustration and disappointment that has engulfed the fan base, some of whom blame management, coaching decisions, and perceived lack of commitment from players for the team’s collapse.
The protest occurred on the eve of Gafsa’s final league fixture, an away match against US Ben Guerdane.
With relegation already confirmed, the trip has little sporting significance, and morale within the squad appears to have hit rock bottom.
Preparations for the match were derailed by the supporters’ intervention, underlining the tension surrounding the club in the wake of their demotion.
Coach Skander Kasri, who watched the events unfold without confrontation, now faces the unenviable task of leading a team into a fixture that symbolizes the end of a turbulent campaign.
The disruption to training only adds to the growing list of challenges confronting the club as it begins to reckon with the fallout from relegation.
While no official statements have been made by EGS Gafsa regarding the supporters’ actions or the future direction of the team, Tuesday’s protest has made one thing abundantly clear: the wounds left by relegation run deep, and the relationship between the club and its supporters is in urgent need of repair.
