Tripoli derby turns into war zone: Players fight, referees flee, and bus torched

Photo Credit: Al Ahli SC.

The big Tripoli derby between Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahly Tripoli descended into chaos on Wednesday, forcing the match to be abandoned before the end of the first half due to widespread violence on and off the pitch.

The game was stopped in the 39th minute after a heated altercation broke out between players from both sides.

The incident occurred just moments after Al-Ittihad’s Moroccan midfielder Noufel Zerhouni opened the scoring with a stunning free-kick in the 38th minute. According to Libyan outlet, Alwasat, his celebration in front of the opposing fans appeared to spark tensions, leading to a physical confrontation on the field.

Portuguese referee Fábio José and his officiating crew promptly decided to leave the pitch and return to the dressing rooms for safety, despite the intervention of the match commissioner who attempted to resume proceedings. The match was never restarted.

In defiance of the Libyan Football Federation’s decision to hold the match behind closed doors, groups of supporters managed to breach security and occupy sections of the stadium.

The unrest extended beyond the stadium premises, with reports confirming that a team bus belonging to Al-Ittihad was set on fire in the street. Fortunately, the bus was empty at the time, and no injuries were reported.

The Libyan Football Federation has yet to issue an official statement regarding the outcome of the match or possible disciplinary actions.