Enugu Rangers have asked the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to order that their CAF Champions League return against MC Alger is played behind closed doors after alleging misconduct by supporters of the Algerian club.
The Nigerian champions submitted a formal petition to CAF’s Interclubs Competitions Organising Committee and Disciplinary Board following Sunday’s second preliminary round first-leg match at the Moshood Abiola Sports Complex in Abeokuta.
Rangers said MC Alger supporters broke down an entrance gate to enter the stadium, bypassed ticketing procedures and vandalised seats after the match.
The club described the incidents as a serious threat to spectator safety, stadium security and the protection of football infrastructure during continental competitions.
Rangers have therefore requested that Friday’s second leg, scheduled for October 23 in Algiers, be played without spectators as a precautionary measure.
They have also called on CAF to require MC Alger to provide adequate security guarantees for the visiting delegation and introduce effective crowd-control measures before the decisive fixture.
The petition follows a 2-0 victory for Fidelis Ilechukwu’s side in the first leg, with Kenneth Igboke and James Emo scoring late to give Rangers a two-goal lead.
The Flying Antelopes will now travel to Algeria seeking to preserve that advantage and complete their qualification for the lucrative group stage of the competition.