CAF has officially punished Tunisian giants Esperance de Tunis ahead of their crunch CAF Champions League semi-final against Al Ahly following crowd trouble in the previous round.
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On Friday, the record Tunisian champions will be looking to put one foot in the door of the biggest game in African club football when they take on Marcel Koller's men.
Esperance have not been to the final of the Champions League since winning it in the 2018/19 campaign, but if they are to progress past the Red Devils, they will have to do so without their home support.
African football's governing body has now imposed multiple sanctions on the Blood and Gold after the recent crowd trouble that ensued in their quarter-final clash against JS Kabylie.
Esperance's home encounter against the Algerian outfit had to be halted for more than 30 minutes after a riot broke out in the stands of the Stade Olympique de Rades.
As a consequence, Nabil Maaloul's men have been ordered to play their next four home matches in continental football behind closed doors, but because CAF have granted a suspension on the verdict, they will only have to play two games without their fans present provided that the club does not have any disciplinary breaches in the next 12 months.
If they do violate their 12-month probation, Esperance will automatically be banned from the next CAF club competition they are set to participate in.
CAF has also told the four-time African champions to pay a $300 000 (R5.5 million) fine for the crowd riots.
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The Champions League could present a last chance at silverware for Maaloul's charges after they fell further behind Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 championship round leaders Etoile du Sahel this past weekend, with their 1-0 loss to city rivals Club Africain on Sunday leaving them in fifth position.
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