Mamelodi Sundowns has expressed sadness to what it describes as unruly behaviour that broke out during their CAF Champions League quarter-final match against Espérance de Tunis from Tunisia.
Sundowns claimed a narrow 1-0 victory over Espérance on Tuesday afternoon at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium, in Pretoria.
The violent incidents were captured on videos circulating on social media, displaying fans causing damage to the stadium, using flares and pepper spray, as well as Sundowns supporters backing away from violent conduct.
Another incident that went viral and caught the most attention, is one where a Sundowns fan was seen lifting an Espérance supporter who seemed like he was about to fall from the stadium stands amid the chaos.
This act of bravery has been widely commended and described as the real act of Ubuntu and sportsmanship.
Through a statement on X, Sundowns stated that a probe is underway following the incident.
“Sundowns awaits a full report from the match Commissioner and is committed to cooperating with CAF to finalise its investigation ahead of the return leg.
Espérance de Tunis is a respected sports institution in Africa, and we trust that once all the evidence is reviewed, our brothers and sisters at Espérance will also denounce this behaviour and take the necessary steps to ensure that the next encounter is one where all supporters feel safe and welcome.
We are confident that the investigation will identify the circumstances that gave rise to the unruly behaviour.
However, in accordance with our African culture of compassion and empathy, we are required to apologise to Espérance de Tunis and its supporters as the unruly behaviour took place at our home stadium, despite the videos and facts indicating that the Sundowns supporters did not initiate the unruly behaviour,” read the statement.
The emergence of fan brawls at stadiums continues to be condemned, as they sometimes lead to fatalities and serious injuries. Sports, in South Africa and globally, are at the top of the list of activities that are used to promote social cohesion and unity among the people.
