Mamelodi Sundowns fans and their Esperance counterparts engaged in a fist fight at Loftus Versfeld following Miguel Cardoso’s team’s win in the CAF Champions League on Tuesday.
Sundowns secured a quarter-final first leg advantage on home soil when Peter Shalulile’s 54th-minute goal handed them a 1-0 win over Esperance, which they will take to Tunis for the second leg on Tuesday, April 8.
However, after the game, ugly scenes were witnessed in the stadium as the two sets of fans clashed.
What Led to the Violence?
It is not known what started the fight, but the supporters broke down barricades at the stadium and used parts of it as weapons, throwing them at each other as the situation escalated.
The fighting extended to the stadium exits, with a section of fans throwing stones and pieces of food at their opponents.
Police had to use tear gas canisters to try and calm the situation, with some Esperance fans holed up on the pitch under police protection as they waited for the situation to settle before being escorted out.
Injured Mamelodi Sundowns fans been treated on the pitch. Photo Credit: X
The stadium announcer made repeated efforts to restore order, even calling for an Arabic-speaking individual to urge the visiting fans to halt their actions in their native language.
🔴 Not a good sight at the end of the #CAFCL clash at the Loftus Stadium between Mamelodi Sundowns and Espérance Sportive de Tunis!!
Over to you @CAF_Online pic.twitter.com/ab3z4Bl3c6
— robertmarawa (@robertmarawa) April 1, 2025
The violence nearly took a turn for the worse when Sundowns’ supporters, known as the Yellow Nation, pinned the Esperance ultras against the railing of the top tier. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported.
Esperance Plans to File a Complaint with CAF
Esperance Sportive de Tunis has announced plans to file a formal complaint with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) regarding the treatment of their supporters during the clash.
The Tunisian club has confirmed that they are preparing all necessary documents and evidence to submit to CAF, claiming that their fans were exposed to violent attacks.
THIS IS NOT FOOTBALL! 🚨🇿🇦🇹🇳#cafclwithmicky #totalenergiescafcl pic.twitter.com/vbcNGkFPq3
— Micky Jnr (@MickyJnr__) April 1, 2025
Esperance stated that their fans were seated in the designated area as instructed, but tensions flared when Sundowns fans allegedly moved towards them, which led to the altercation.
Sundowns fan helping an Esperance supporter who almost fell off. Photo Credit: X
The club also confirmed that all their fans are safe, and those injured are receiving treatment.
Fireworks Expected in the Return Leg
The ugly scenes took the gloss off a great game of football, as Sundowns had managed to find a breakthrough in what was a tightly contested encounter.
Shalulile poked home from a Jayden Adams cross, allowing the home side to find a way past their North African opponents as Cardoso got one over his former team.
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The Brazilians will hope to complete the job in the second leg in Tunis in a week’s time, in what will likely be a heated encounter, both on the pitch and in the stands, following the incidents in Pretoria.
Following the violence, CAF’s disciplinary committee will have their hands full as they deliberate on the incident and prepare the logistics for next Tuesday’s fixture at Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi in Rades, Tunisia, where a hostile reception is expected.
