Etoile thrown out of ACL due to fan violence

TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) -- Tunisian team Etoile Sportive du Sahel has been thrown out of the African Champions League after its fans forced a match to be abandoned by throwing projectiles and invading the pitch earlier this month.

The African Football Confederation announced the punishment in a statement.

Etoile was losing 2-0 to Esperance in the Aug. 18 game in Sousse, 100 miles (150 kilometers) south of Tunis, when fans began pelting the pitch with rocks, bottles and firecrackers. They then stormed the field, forcing the referee to halt the match in the 67th minute.

CAF cited Article 7 of the rules of competition dealing with fan behavior to justify its decision in its statement.

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