CAF throws ES Setif out of Champions League

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has disqualified Algerian side ES Setif from further participation in the ongoing 2016 African Champions League competition.
The club’s disqualification followed the ugly incidences which marred their Group B match against visiting Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa on Saturday.
“This decision followed the regrettable incidents which took place during match no.98 of the 2016 CAF Champions League between ES
Setif and Mamelodi Sundowns, whereby the referee was obliged to abandon the said match before its end,’’ a statement on the CAF website disclosed.
It added that match officials noted especially the pitch invasion as well as numerous throws of missiles, stones, bottles, and firecrackers.
The statement said this had led to a certain number of spectators being injured and members of the security forces being provoked.
It said the CAF Organising Committee for the Inter-Clubs Competitions decided to apply the provisions of Chapter XII paragraph 3.
“The Committee considered ES Sétif loser and eliminated from the competition without prejudice to any other sanctions that may be imposed by the CAF Disciplinary Board.
“This is because Chapter XII paragraph 3 stipulates thus: “If the referee is forced to stop the match before the end of the regular time because of invasion of the field or aggression against the visiting team, the host team shall be considered loser.
“It shall also be eliminated from the competition, without prejudice to the sanctions existing in the regulations,’’ the statement said.
It added that the result of the said match was cancelled in conformity with the spirit of article XI.13 of the regulations.
This regulation had stipulated that “if a team withdraws after the start of the group matches without having played half of the group matches, the overall results of the matches in which this team participated is cancelled.”
This development means that the group now has three clubs, with Zamalek of Egypt now group leaders with three points.
They were 1-0 winners over Enyimba International FC of Aba in Port Harcourt on Sunday in the group’s other Match Day 1 fixture.
The next fixture in the group is on Wednesday when Enyimba will visit Mamelodi Sundowns in Pretoria.