Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro voiced his profound disappointment at the regrettable scenes of violence that marred his team’s otherwise triumphant TotalEnergies CAF Champions League quarter-final victory over MC Alger on Wednesday night.
Despite securing a coveted semi-final spot thanks to their aggregate 1-0 win (following a goalless second leg draw in Algeria), the final whistle was overshadowed by the hostile scenes that ensued.
Shockingly, numerous players from both sides engaged in physical altercations, including kicking and punching, as teammates and stadium security attempted to separate the unrest.
The Algerian side’s frustration at their elimination seemingly boiled over, with their players and staff directing their anger towards the match officials and the victorious Orlando Pirates contingent. This culminated in physical confrontations between members of both clubs’ personnel.
Outgoing Orlando Pirates boss Riveiro admitted his lack of clarity regarding the initial trigger but passionately condemned such behaviour.
He said: “I don’t really know what happened,” said Riveiro. “Probably we are going to the space to know who started the fight. I think it doesn’t matter for me, for us, or for my group; football is something special. It is something that cannot get dirty with this type of behaviour, which is something unacceptable.
“Whatever happened, probably everybody was making mistakes outside, but those behaviours must be as far as possible from these types of spectacles, far from sport because we don’t really need it. We have to learn how to win, and we have to learn how to lose, we have to accept the result, whatever is coming.”
The Spaniard added: “And again, I don’t really know what happened because I was just sitting on the bench when everything started. I was trying to understand the dimension of what we had just achieved a few seconds before, and all of a sudden, everything was a mess in front of me,” he added.
“We will see some sad pictures, and I hope that the people who find themselves in those pictures feel embarrassed enough not to repeat it again, and we can just have a normal football game every time we come to a football game.
“Our fans are a good example all around the world of what a football game means, the way to come to the stadium, enjoying it with a good spirit, and being in a good mood, and that’s it. Like I said, I don’t want to say much because I don’t have all the information right now, but hopefully it is the last time that we see this type of scene in Orlando.”
After sealing their passage into the final four, the Sowetans will face Egyptian side Pyramids FC in the semi-final of Africa’s premier club competition. The first leg is set for Friday, 18 April 2024 in Johannesburg. Kick off is scheduled for 18h00.