Rabat – Al Ahly have been hit with disciplinary sanctions by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following crowd trouble during their Champions League group-stage Match against FAR Rabat in Cairo.
In an official statement, the Egyptian club confirmed receiving a letter from CAF’s Disciplinary Committee.
The ruling bans Al Ahly supporters from attending two upcoming continental matches, though the second game is suspended pending future conduct. The club was also fined $50,000, with an additional $10,000 penalty for the use of laser pointers during the match.
The decision comes after disturbing scenes at halftime, when FAR Rabat players were targeted by sections of Al Ahly fans. As the Moroccan side headed toward the tunnel, bottles and other objects were thrown from the stands.
Television footage showed the danger the Moroccan squad faced before security staff intervened, forming a protective corridor to shield the players.
The incident has reignited debate over fairness in CAF’s disciplinary process. Earlier in the campaign, FAR Rabat were punished with two matches behind closed doors after crowd trouble in the reverse fixture.
Many observers have questioned whether CAF would apply the same principle to Al Ahly, given the misconduct of their supporters in Cairo.
Read also: FAR Rabat Players Attacked by Al Ahly Fans in Cairo
Al Ahly stressed in their statement that the club’s legal department will take the necessary steps to respond to CAF’s ruling. The sanctions mean the team could face crucial knockout matches without the backing of their fans, a significant blow as they chase continental success.
For now, the spotlight is on CAF’s consistency in handling disciplinary cases, with both clubs having faced punishment for supporter behavior.
The violent scenes in Cairo underline the growing pressure on African football authorities to ensure player safety and maintain fairness across competitions.
Al Ahly will face Esperance Tunis in the Caf Champions League quarter finals on March 15, and the match will be played behind closed doors due to CAF’s disciplinary sanctions
While the Moroccan side AS Far, who were also punished earlier in the campaign, will meet Pyramids in the quarter-final first leg on March 13 in Rabat also without supporters
