Pretoria – Violent clashes broke out between rival supporters following Mamelodi Sundowns’ 1-0 victory over Esperance de Tunis in the first leg of their CAF Champions League quarterfinal at Loftus Versfeld on Tuesday night.
Witnesses, including Sundowns supporters and members of the media, reported that Esperance fans breached barriers and instigated the unrest shortly after the final whistle. However, no official statement has been issued assigning blame for the incident.
Amid the chaos, a moment of sportsmanship emerged when a Sundowns supporter was seen assisting an Esperance fan who was at risk of serious injury after attempting to jump between two stands.
Emergency responders treated minor injuries sustained during the scuffles. “I was told rival supporters threw plastic water bottles at each other, and there were some altercations. We treated cuts and bruises, but nothing serious,” a medic told AFP via France24.
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Both clubs have remained silent on the violence. The second leg of the quarterfinal is scheduled to take place in Tunis on April 9.
