The Provincial ABC Motsepe League first-leg play-off game between BCM Stars FC and SA Spear of The Nation was stopped in the second half, after fans of the two teams clashed at Isaac Wolfson Stadium in Gqeberha on Sunday afternoon.
Home side, BCM Stars and SA Spear of The Nation topped the two streams of the Eastern Cape’s ABC Motsepe League for the 2021/22 season.
Spear finished the season without a loss in Stream A, collecting 46 points in 16 games, while BCM won Stream B with 31 points, having only suffered one loss the whole season.
The two-legged play-offs will determine the team that will represent the Eastern Cape in the National ABC Motsepe League play-offs, to be announced soon by the South African Football Association.
Referee Roche Jacobs had to call off the game in the second half, after a clash of fans in the stands got out of hand. The uncontrollable situation was caused by a red card that the referee issued to a BCM Stars player for retaliating, which caused an uproar in the stands, leaving some fans injured.
Visitors, Spear of The Nation, were leading after a first-half goal from Sifundo Dlamini.
Kamani-Karoo Express called SAFA Eastern Cape head of competition, Sandile Mata, about the incident, but he refused to comment on the clash and said the SAFA EC competitions committee, together with the disciplinary committee, would sit and make a ruling during the week.
Both BCM Stars and SA Spear of The Nation in their club statements condemned the fans’ unsporting behaviour.
SA Spear of The Nation, in their statement, went on to promise to provide BCM Stars players, supporters and management with security and fair play during their home game, in eMaxesibeni, on Sunday.
