Mihlali Baleka at Orlando Stadium
Orlando Pirates were unable to celebrate their progress to the CAF Champions League semi-finals in peace after physical altercations broke out following their goalless draw with MC Alger on Wednesday night.
Pirates held MC Alger to a stalemate in the second leg of the quarter-final clash, resulting in the Buccaneers winning the tie 1-0 on aggregate.
The Sea Robbers had steered to steady waters in the first leg away in Algeria as they won via Mohau Nkota’s goal.
But after wrapping up the tie in the return leg in front of a buzzing Orlando Stadium on Wednesday, the visitors didn’t take the loss kindly, initially targeting referee Ibrahim Traore.
After Pirates’ security personnel tried to cushion and whisk the match officials to safety, Pirates and Alger’s personnel were involved in physical altercations.
With Pirates on cloud nine, they initially pleaded with the visitors to take the loss graciously and allow the match to end peacefully.
But it seemed the Algerians were having none of it as they didn’t only bay for the blood of the referees, but of the Pirates staff as well.
The ongoing fight which the South African Police Service (SAPS) officers failed to contain, triggered The Ghost, the Pirates fans, to jump onto the pitch, adding more fuel to the fire.
The fight continued down the tunnel as the Alger officials were involved in a scuffle with journalists in the media zone area before the official post-match press conference.
Signs that the clash might end in nasty scenes loomed large towards the end of the game as the Ultras, the MC Alger fans, had brawls with The Ghost.
It was not the first time that North Africans teams or fans had physical altercations with the locals in the quarter-finals during recent visits.
Esperance’s fans had physical fights with their Sundowns counterparts in the first leg in Pretoria, while Zamalek supporters also fought with their Stellenbosch opposite numbers in Cape Town.
