The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced a series of sanctions against the Moroccan club Nahdet Berkane and Libyan club Abu Salim, against the backdrop of disciplinary violations during the Confederation’s recent matches.
The CAF Disciplinary Committee took strict decisions that included suspending three players and imposing financial fines due to unsportsmanlike behavior.
The penalties include suspending Hossam Al-Abbani, Abu Salim’s player, for eight matches and a fine of $15,000 for assaulting the referee. Mossad Al-Amami from the same team was also suspended for four matches for directing insults at the referee.
As for Nahdet Berkane Club, Omar Al-Arjoun was subjected to a four-match suspension due to dissent and pushing the referee.
In a related context, Zamalek Club faced harsh penalties, including a fine of $200,000 and banning its fans from attending four upcoming matches, following the events that accompanied the second leg of the Confederation Finals.
The Federation also announced fines on a number of club assistants and players, ranging from 14,000 to 2.4 million euros.
The match between Nahdet Berkane and Abu Salim in the group stage of the 2023-24 African Confederation Cup, which was held on March 20, 2024, witnessed several violations, including unsportsmanlike behavior by Abu Salim players, violent protests against the referee’s decisions throughout the match, and an attempt to assault the referee, Mohamed Maarouf, after the end of the match. .
It also witnessed water bottles being thrown at Nahdet Berkane players, misconduct by Abu Salim’s technical staff, continuous interference in the decisions of the fourth official, and uttering inappropriate phrases towards the referees.
On May 26, 2024, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) issued an official statement announcing the opening of an investigation into the events of the 2023-2024 African Confederation Cup final between the Egyptian club Zamalek and the Nahdet Berkane club. Moroccan, the statement indicated that there were “a number of security breaches and intrusions into the playing field after the final whistle of the match in a way that harmed the coronation ceremonies and the celebration.”
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