 Caf needs to crack down on violence |
Caf is promising to take strong action after a series of serious violent incidents in Nations Cup qualifying in recent weeks. Members of the Confederation are due to meet in Cairo next month to take decide on sanctions they plan to impose to impose.
In a statement on Monday, the ruling body said the Nations Cup organising committee would meet on July 12 to go through reports of incidents in Kampala and Dakar and take the "necessary actions accordingly".
In qualifying matches on 7 June, violence flared after rival fans fought following a derby game between Senegal and Gambia in Dakar. Scores of people were injured, and it led to days of reprisal attacks in Dakar and the Gambian capital, Banjul and in other towns.
Youths armed with machetes attacked Senegalese nationals in Gambia, destroying several Senegalese-owned businesses and threatening to kill any Senegalese they found.
The rioters smashed up a Senegalese school, forcing the Gambian government to deploy troops, impose a curfew and appeal for calm. In Kampala, it was fighting between Ugandan and Rwandan players which will be investigated.
Trouble started when a Ugandan security official removed an object from the Rwandan goal, claiming it was a magic charm.
The keeper insists it was just his gloves.
Rwandan players accuse the Ugandan police of wading in with wooden truncheons, and beating them persistently.
They refused to continue with the match, but were eventually persuaded to resume after a lengthy delay, and went on to record an 1-0 upset win. Caf is also likely to consider a protest from Cape Verde after their 5-2 defeat to Togo.
The Cape Verdians are protesting against the inclusion of two Brazilian footballers who both scored for Togo - Alexandro Faria and Paulo Jefferson de Souza.
They were brought over by Togo's Brazilian coach Antonio Dumas, and were both fast-tracked to becoming Togolese citizens.
MMIX
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 