Mamelodi Sundowns has offered an apology to Esperance Sportive de Tunis following the “unruly behaviour” that marred the conclusion of their recent CAF Champions League quarterfinal first-leg match.
Nevertheless, the Pretoria-based outfit has released a statement that simultaneously disputes the Tunisian club’s account regarding which set of supporters instigated the post-match clashes.
The Brazilians secured a narrow 1-0 victory over the formidable North African side at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Tuesday. Regrettably, the hard-fought win was overshadowed by violent confrontations that erupted in the stands immediately after the final whistle.
Read: Esperance releases controversial statement on fan violence following Sundowns defeat
Initial reports and visual evidence suggest that Esperance fans were the first to provoke the altercation by launching objects towards the Sundowns supporters. This act appeared to trigger a reaction from the home fans, who seemingly acted in self-defense.
As the situation escalated and the Esperance contingent found themselves outnumbered, chaotic scenes unfolded, with numerous away supporters attempting to flee the confrontation, resulting in several individuals falling over rows of unoccupied seating.
The ensuing disorder led to injuries among some fans, who received on-site medical attention. Esperance has further claimed that a number of their supporters required hospital admission for their injuries.
In response to these events, Mamelodi Sundowns has formally extended an apology to Esperance. The club acknowledged that the “unruly behaviour” occurred at their home venue, thereby necessitating an expression of regret.
Despite this apology, Sundowns’ statement firmly contests the narrative that their supporters were the aggressors. The club explicitly asserts that available “videos and facts” indicate that Esperance’s supporters initiated the unrest, targeting the “Yellow Nation” with acts including the throwing of flares and the deployment of pepper spray at the onset of the incident. Sundowns has stated that they are currently awaiting the official findings of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) investigation into the matter.
In an official statement released on their social media platforms, Mamelodi Sundowns said:
“MAMELODI SUNDOWNS SADDENED BY UNRULY BEHAVIOUR AT ITS MATCH AGAINST ESPÉRANCE
Mamelodi Sundowns is deeply saddened by the unruly behaviour that was displayed yesterday (01 April) at its CAF Champions League quarterfinal match against Espérance de Tunis at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.
Videos circulating on social media depict malicious damage to the stadium and the Mamelodi Sundowns supporters retreating from violent conduct that was initiated against them, including flares and pepper spray when the incident started.
Sundowns awaits a full report from the Match Commissioner and is committed to cooperating with CAF to finalize 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 (our African culture of Ubuntu) we are required to apologize 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.”
The return leg, scheduled for April 8th, 2025, will see Miguel Cardoso return to Tunisia, facing his former club with a favorable result in hand.
Remarkably, this victory marks Cardoso as the first Sundowns coach to overcome Esperance de Tunis, adding a significant chapter to the club’s history.