In a significant decision by the Confederation of African Football, the Mamelodi Sundowns club has been handed a hefty fine of $100,000 following violent disturbances involving fans during an African Champions League match. This match, held on April 1, featured the Sundowns against Esperance from Tunisia, with both teams scheduled to participate in the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.
Owned by Patrice Motsepe—an influential South African mining magnate and FIFA vice-president—the Sundowns were found to have violated safety and security protocols during the hosting of the game, according to a disciplinary statement released by CAF on Thursday. Motsepe, who has held the position of president of CAF for the past four years, was re-elected without opposition last month.
CAF emphasized that Sundowns must “rigorously apply the safety and security measures specified in the CAF regulations, guidelines, and directives, especially in their forthcoming matches.”
Meanwhile, Esperance faced a more substantial fine of $150,000, also related to fan misconduct observed during the first leg of the quarterfinal clash. In this encounter, Sundowns emerged victorious with a narrow 1-0 win in Pretoria. The subsequent return match, ending in a 0-0 draw in Tunis a week later, saw the South African team progress to the semifinals. They are now set to face Al Ahly from Egypt—another competitor in the Club World Cup—in the semifinal stage’s opening leg.
Both Sundowns and Esperance have earned their spots in the U.S.-based Club World Cup, coming this June, thanks to consistently strong performances in the CAF Champions League over the past four years. Sundowns will compete against Ulsan of South Korea, Borussia Dortmund from Germany, and Brazil’s Fluminense, with their matches scheduled to take place in Orlando, Cincinnati, and Miami.
Conversely, Esperance has been drawn in a group alongside England’s Chelsea, Flamengo from Brazil, and initially Leon—a team disqualified by FIFA due to ownership conflicts with another qualified Mexican team, Pachuca. This group will see action in Philadelphia and Nashville. Leon’s appeal against this disqualification is slated for a hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Madrid on May 5.
The Club World Cup will span 11 U.S. cities between June 14 and July 13, promising an exciting tournament for fans across the globe.