Nigeria: CAF Throws Out TP Mazembe From Champions League

16 May 2011

FOLLOWING a complaint filed by Simba Sports of Tanzania following match 68 of the Orange Champions League, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) launched an investigation on the eligibility of TP Mazembe’s player named Janvier Besala Bokungu.

The findings of the investigation were submitted to the Organising Committee for CAF Interclubs competitions.

Mazembe, who this year were seeking an unprecedented third successive continental title, were found guilty of fraud by the competition’s organising committee at their regular mid-season meeting in Cairo.

Mazembe used Janvier Bokungu, who CAF found was contracted with another club, in both legs of their second round tie against Simba SC of Tanzania in April.

CAF said they had investigated the eligibility of Bokungu, who had signed for Mazembe despite still being under contract at Esperance of Tunisia after complaints from Simba. Bokungu, 22, was suspended earlier this month by African football’s governing body despite Mazembe’s assertion he had terminated his contract in Tunisia to re-join his old side.

Based on those findings, the Organising Committee decided to disqualify TP Mazembe on the basis of Chapter VIII (Fraud), article 24, article 26 (Qualification of players) and article 29 of Orange CAF Champions League regulations.

The Organising Committee decided as well that the replacement will be made after a play-off match, to be played next week in a neutral venue, between Simba FC and Wydad of Casablanca.

AllAfrica – All the Time