The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has slammed a $50,000 fine on the Libyan Football Federation (LFF) following the unruly behavior of fans during their final 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Benin.
In the controversial match held in Benghazi, Benin secured their spot in the AFCON tournament with a goalless draw, but the result didn’t sit well with Libyan supporters. Furious fans hurled stones and bottles at the visiting team, creating chaotic scenes.
Benin’s head coach, Gernot Rohr, decried the situation, revealing that both players and officials were assaulted by Libyan fans and even police after the match ended.
CAF’s Disciplinary Action
In a statement, the CAF Disciplinary Board found the LFF guilty of breaching Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code due to the violent conduct of supporters and officials. Consequently, Libya was handed two significant penalties:
A $50,000 fine.
Mandatory closed-door matches for their next two official games.
CAF’s statement read:
“The CAF Disciplinary Board found the Libyan Football Federation guilty of violating Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code for the behavior of its supporters and officials during and after the match.
“The Libyan Football Federation was ordered to play its next two (2) official national team matches behind closed doors, and the CAF Disciplinary Board imposed a fine of USD 50,000.”
A Pattern of Misconduct
This isn’t the first time Libya has faced disciplinary action. Just months ago, the LFF was fined another $50,000 after a botched friendly against Nigeria’s Super Eagles. In that incident, the Nigerian team was stranded for over 20 hours at Al-Abraq International Airport, forcing the game to be canceled.
The repeated sanctions highlight ongoing issues within the Libyan football scene, raising questions about their management and adherence to CAF regulations.
As the dust settles, the LFF faces mounting pressure to address these lapses and prevent further damage to its reputation on the continental stage.
