Thirty-one supporters of Espérance de Tunis have been detained after violent incidents in the Tunisian capital during the quarter-final of the African Champions League between this Tunisian club and the Sports Youth of Kabylie, in Algeria, according to legal sources.
Saturday, violent incidents including a fire had caused the interruption for more than 30 minutes of this match at the Olympic stadium of Radès, in the southern suburbs of Tunis. A judicial inquiry has been opened into the circumstances and responsibilities in the violence, spokesman for the Ben Arous court of first instance (near Tunis), Omar Hnaïen, told local media on Thursday.
A supporter with a chainsaw
Warrants of detention have already been issued against 31 EST supporters, the spokesperson said, indicating that 27 others who are also under investigation have been released. The supporters are being prosecuted for “criminal association with the aim of attacking property and persons and for the aggression” of public officials in the exercise of their functions, local media reported Thursday.
A video showing a fan wielding a chainsaw inside the stadium was also widely shared on social media. The match was able to resume after a thirty-minute break, in front of almost empty stands on the Espérance side.