Ismaily back in CAF Champions League after ban lifted

Egyptian club Ismaily were reinstated in the CAF Champions League Sunday after being disqualified last month when some of their supporters forced a match to be abandoned.

Sections of the crowd in Ismailia hurled stones and water bottles on the pitch leading to a group game against Club Africain of Tunisia being suspended in stoppage time.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF), who organise the premier African club competition, banned the Egyptian club after a disciplinary hearing.

But Ismaily appealed and CAF communications director Nathalie Rabe announced Sunday that the club would be allowed back into the competition.

"From what has been seen, there has been no invasion of the ground and aggression (targeted) against the opposing team has not been established," she told AFP.

"These are the two conditions necessary to declare the host team losing (the match) and (being) eliminated from the competition."

CS Constantine of Algeria and TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo are the other clubs in Group C and the top two after six matchdays qualify for the quarterfinals.

Constantine and Mazembe have six points each, Club Africain three and Ismaily none halfway through the schedule, although the Algerians and Egyptians have a match in hand.

Crowd trouble is common in Egypt and at least 74 people, most supporters of hugely popular Cairo club Al Ahly, died during clashes in Port Said seven years ago.

Egypt were selected last month as emergency hosts of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations this June and July after original choice Cameroon fell behind with preparations.