Africa-Press – Angola. The Disciplinary Council of the Angolan Football Federation (FAF)Friday, sanctioned Sagrada Esperança to hold the games of the National Football Championship “Girabola2022/23” behind closed doors.
The sanction, which results from the turmoil caused by the fans of Sagrada Esperança, in the game against Petro de Luanda, referring to the 27th round, starts to take effect from the 29th round and extends until the first round of the next season (2023/24 ), as host.
The Lunda Norte guild was also fined to pay 25 thousand UFC, corresponding to two million and 200 thousand kwanzas.
The turmoil started after the refereeing team, led by José Chitunda, annulled a goal by Sagrada Esperança, in the 43rd minute, for allegedly being offside.
After that moment, the Lunda fans started throwing benches, water bottles and other objects on the court, forcing the stoppage of the duel, at a time when Petro de Luanda was winning by 2-0.
In the face of resistance, the National Police launched tear gas, creating panic in the stands, with people rushing and being trampled and asphyxiated.
Many were rescued on the spot and others evacuated to Hospital do Dundo to be resuscitated.
Some, to find safety, invaded the game court, since the five gates of the Stadium were completely full, due to the created panic.
The game, in which Petro was isolated in the lead, with 62 points, after winning, by 2-1, resumed 45 minutes later, after the National Police had controlled the situation.
This is not the first episode of its kind in the history of clashes between Sagrada Esperança and Petro de Luanda.
In 2021, in the last game of the season against Petro de Luanda, in which Sagrada was champion, the “Lundas” left the playing court, after the referee of the match signaled a penalty in favor of “Petrolíferos”.
In this game, the fans of Sagrada Esperança vandalized the Estádio 11 de Novembro, due to alleged bad performance by the refereeing team.
In the first round of this season, at Estádio 22 de Junho, in Luanda, in which Petro won 2-1, the game was also marked by attempts at aggression between players from both teams.
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