14 May 2011
Holders TP Mazembe Englebert of the Democratic Republic of Congo have been thrown out of the African Champions League for fielding an ineligible player in the early rounds of this years competition, the Confederation of African Football said on Saturday.
Mazembe, who this year were seeking an unprecedented third successive continental title, were found guilty of fraud by the competitions 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 footballs governing body despite Mazembes assertion he had terminated his contract in Tunisia to re-join his old side.
A CAF statement said Simba were now being reinstated into the competition and would play a one-off match at a neutral venue with Moroccos Wydad Casablanca, who lost on aggregate to Mazembe in the third round last weekend. The winner would qualify for the league phase, which starts in mid-July. The draw is being made in Cairo on Sunday.
Mazembe are also in danger of forfeiting their place in the Congolese league after departing this week for a training camp in Brazil despite having a key match scheduled at the weekend.
The league said the request had been turned down because it was submitted on the same day that Mazembe left.
“Given that we received your letter asking for the postponement of league matches on the same day you flew to Brazil, we consider this a deliberate attempt to make us accept it as a ‘fait accompli’,” said a statement from the FECOFA, the controlling body.
