A League 1 match in Tunisia was suspended after assistant referee Marwane Saad was struck on the head by an object thrown from the stands.
The incident occurred during Sunday’s clash between CA Bizertin and Club Africain, when the visitors were leading 1-0.
Reports indicate that tensions had been rising inside the stadium as home fans of CA Bizertin expressed frustration over refereeing decisions and their team’s performance.
In the 65th minute, Saad was hit by a projectile, believed to be a bottle, which left him bleeding and unable to continue.
Medical staff rushed onto the pitch to provide first aid before he was taken to a nearby hospital for further treatment.
Match officials immediately halted the game, and after consultation with security authorities, it was officially abandoned for safety reasons.
The Tunisian Football Federation (FTF) is expected to open an investigation into the incident, with possible sanctions looming over CA Bizertin, including fines, points deduction, or even playing matches behind closed doors.
Violence at football matches has been a recurring challenge in Tunisia, where fan unrest has often disrupted domestic competitions.
The FTF and law enforcement agencies have previously warned clubs about crowd control, but Sunday’s incident once again highlighted the difficulty of maintaining order in high stakes matches.
Club Africain, who were in control of the game before it was suspended, may be awarded the three points, depending on the federation’s disciplinary ruling.
Meanwhile, the referees’ union in Tunisia has condemned the attack on Saad, calling for stronger protection of match officials and stricter punishments for perpetrators of stadium violence.
