Simba SC Penalized by CAF Over Disturbances in Match Against CS Sfaxien

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s football powerhouse, Simba Sports Club, has received a ruling from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) regarding disturbances during their match against Tunisia’s CS Sfaxien on December 15, 2024.

The game, held at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium in Dar es Salaam, saw Simba SC clinch a hard-fought 2-1 victory. However, the match was marred by significant violence in the stands, leading to the destruction of 256 seats.

Dar es Salaam’s Special Zone Police Commander, Jumanne Muliro, confirmed that the vandalized seats included 156 blue and 100 orange seats. Additionally, one CS Sfaxien fan suffered an injury during the chaos and was treated with first aid before being released.

The unrest erupted after CS Sfaxien fans grew agitated over the referee’s decision to add more than seven minutes of stoppage time. This extended time allowed Simba SC to score their second and winning goal, which intensified the frustration of the visiting supporters and players. Some members of the CS Sfaxien squad, including technical staff, confronted the referee in a hostile manner.

Commander Muliro explained the situation: “CS Sfaxien fans were dissatisfied with the referee’s decision to add extra stoppage time, which led to Simba scoring their second goal. This triggered violence, including the destruction of seats, and some CS Sfaxien players and staff even confronted the referee and engaged in aggressive behavior.”

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As a result of the incident, CAF imposed a two-match ban on Simba SC and fined the club $40,000. However, the suspension was later reduced to a one-match ban to be served behind closed doors. Additionally, the Tanzanian Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts, and Sports issued a letter to Simba SC on December 16, 2024, ordering the club to cover the costs of repairing the damaged seats caused by the disturbances.

Despite the sanctions, Simba SC managed to secure victories in both matches against CS Sfaxien. In the return leg on January 5, 2025, held at the Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi in Tunisia, Simba triumphed with a 1-0 win. This victory propelled the Tanzanian side to the top of Group A, securing nine points from four matches and strengthening their position for a spot in the knockout stages of the CAF Champions League.

In a statement released on January 14, 2025, Simba SC assured fans and the public that they are taking the necessary steps to comply with the CAF ruling. In light of the sanctions, the club has suspended ticket sales for their upcoming match against Algeria’s CS Constantine. Fans who have already purchased tickets will be able to use them for the upcoming quarterfinal match instead.