MC Alger could face a substantial financial penalty after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) opened the door to disciplinary action following the controversy surrounding their 2-0 defeat by Nigeria’s Enugu Rangers in the African Champions League.
Sources within CAF told winwin that the organisation’s Disciplinary Committee is scheduled to meet by video conference on Thursday, 22 October, to examine incidents reported during the first-leg matches of the second preliminary round of the Champions League and Confederation Cup.
The meeting will take place before the return fixtures begin on Friday, with the match between MC Alger and Enugu Rangers among the cases expected to receive particular attention.
According to the sources, CAF has received video footage and complaints from both clubs concerning events surrounding the first leg, which was won 2-0 by the Nigerian side.
Although match observer Fidel Gomez of Guinea-Bissau did not report any disturbances before, during or after the encounter, the disciplinary committee is expected to consider the additional material submitted to the governing body.
A financial sanction against MC Alger is among the possible outcomes being discussed, although the final decision will depend on the committee’s assessment of the evidence. The sources indicated that no further disciplinary measures were currently expected, pending the outcome of Thursday’s proceedings.
MC Alger raise concerns over refereeing decisions
The Algerian club had previously issued a statement expressing dissatisfaction with the handling of the match in Nigeria, highlighting several refereeing decisions that they considered controversial.
Among their main complaints was a penalty awarded to Enugu Rangers, which MC Alger argued had been given despite there being no foul that warranted the decision.
The club also questioned the second yellow card shown to Oussama Benhoua, claiming that the foul in question had actually been committed by another player, Ayoub Ghazala.
MC Alger’s objections formed part of the concerns surrounding the match, with the club also reporting difficulties involving members of its delegation and media team at the Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta.
The Algerian side said members of its delegation had faced harassment in the VIP section of the stadium. It also alleged that its photographer encountered similar problems while covering the match through the club’s official YouTube channel.
According to the club, the photographer was forced to change the camera angle several times during the live broadcast.
MC Alger reiterated its opposition to any conduct that could damage the reputation of the club and its supporters. It also distanced itself from acts of violence, misconduct and vandalism affecting parts of the stadium.
The allegations and complaints are among the issues surrounding the fixture as CAF prepares to review the available information.
CAF considers additional security measures for return leg
The second leg is scheduled to take place at the Martyr Ali Ammar Stadium in Algeria on Friday, 23 October, with kick-off set for 19:00 GMT, or 20:00 local time.
A refereeing team from Lesotho has been appointed for the encounter, while Egyptian official Hisham Salah El-Din Mustafa will serve as match supervisor.
Given the tension surrounding the first meeting, CAF is also considering appointing a security coordinator for the return fixture, sources told winwin.
The move would represent an additional measure for a match expected to attract considerable attention following the events reported in Nigeria.
CAF does not normally appoint a dedicated security coordinator for preliminary-round matches, relying instead on a match observer and a referee assessor.
However, the circumstances surrounding the first leg have prompted consideration of a different arrangement for the decisive encounter in Algeria.
MC Alger will now prepare for the return match while awaiting the outcome of CAF’s disciplinary review. The Algerian club must also attempt to overturn a two-goal deficit if it is to progress, while the governing body’s investigation will determine whether any sanctions follow the complaints and footage submitted after the first leg.
