The head of the Presidential Council, Mohamed Menfi, reiterated his opposition to the use of force against sports fans, the exploitation of their demands to stir up tension and security chaos, and the targeting of government buildings and private property.

Menfi met with the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al-Ittihad Club, Mohamed Ismail, on Saturday and received a briefing from him regarding the clashes that occurred following the match between Al-Ittihad and Al-Swehli in the final round of the Libyan League last Thursday.

He stated that sports management must turn to the relevant institutions to secure their rights and uphold sportsmanship in the face of calls for hatred and incitement among sports fans and between Libyan cities, according to a statement from the Presidential Council.

Menfi Calls for Review of Al-Ittihad Club’s Demands

Menfi called on the Football Federation to fulfill its responsibilities by reviewing the demands presented by Al-Ittihad Club, “in accordance with its obligations as governed by applicable regulations and laws.”

The statement said that the Presidential Council has been monitoring for days the repercussions of the riots that occurred in the cities of Tripoli and Tarhuna, following the suspension of the Al-Ittihad and Al-Swehli match, and is continuing its efforts to prevent the escalation of security tensions, ensure that the relevant institutions respond to the demands of the sports fans, and investigate the motives and causes of recent developments.

Clashes in Tarhuna and riots in Tripoli

On Thursday evening, the Al-Swehli vs. Al-Ittihad match, part of the Libyan Premier League championship six-team tournament, witnessed widespread riots that resulted in damage to the broadcast vehicle belonging to “Libya Sports” channel and the vandalism of several facilities at the Tarhuna stadium following the failure to award a penalty kick to Al-Ittihad three minutes before the end of the match.

Following the clashes in Tarhuna, the Cabinet Protection and Security Force, affiliated with the General Staff, announced the arrest of several individuals involved in the break-ins and vandalism that occurred in the area surrounding the Cabinet building in Tripoli, amid tensions surrounding the match itself.