Rangers petition CAF over MC Alger fans’ misconduct

Enugu Rangers have lodged a formal petition with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) over the alleged unruly conduct of MC Alger fans during and after the first leg of the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League at the Moshood Abiola Sports Complex in Abeokuta on Sunday.

The Flying Antelopes earned a hard-fought 2-0 victory over the Algerian team.

Kenneth Igboke and James Emo scored late in the match to give the Nigerian champions a significant lead heading into the second leg.

In a petition submitted to the Organizing Committee for Interclub Competitions and the CAF Disciplinary Council, Rangers accused MC Alger supporters of breaking down an entrance gate to the stadium to gain entry, circumventing ticketing procedures and vandalizing seats after the match.

Read also:CAF Champions League: Rangers beat MC Alger 2-0 in the first leg

The club expressed concern about the incidents, describing them as serious threats to the safety of spectators, the security of stadiums and the protection of football infrastructure during continental competitions.

Rangers have therefore asked CAF to order that Friday’s second leg, scheduled for October 23 in Algiers, be played behind closed doors as a precautionary measure.

The Nigerian champions also urged continental football’s governing body to compel MC Alger to provide adequate security guarantees for the visiting delegation and implement effective crowd control measures ahead of the decisive fixture.

Fidelis Ilechukwu’s men will now look to protect their two-goal lead in Algiers and secure qualification for the lucrative group stage of the competition.

By Adeboye Amosu