Kayode Ogundare:
Nigerian striker Michael Babatunde was on target in Raja de Casablanca’s 2-1 win over Chabab Rif Al Hociema on Saturday but the victory was marred by fans brawling before and after the game.
Two people were killed and 49 injured in Morocco’s largest city when rival fans of Raja brawled after a home game with running battles, in which fans threw flares and ripped up parts of the Mohammed V stadium.
Footage on Moroccan media showed the fans – dressed in the club’s green colours – charging at each other. It was unclear how the clashes had erupted.
Babatunde scored a 73rd minute goal to extend Raja’s lead after Mohamed Oulhaj had opened scores for the home side in first half stoppage time. Dibami Junior scored a penalty in added time to reduce the tally for Hoceima.
The goal was the Super Eagles’ forward’s third in five straight appearances and has now resurrected talks of an impending move away from Morroco for the former Volyn of Ukraine striker who joined Raja last January.
The country’s DGSN security service said in a statement that 31 people were arrested after the match for involvement in ‘acts of vandalism’. Ten people had been arrested prior to the game for the same reason, it said.
Prosecutors have opened an inquiry into the fan trouble.
Rival supporters often clash during Moroccan football matches.
A year ago a man died in the central city of Khouribga during clashes between supporters of the local club and of Raja de Casablanca. In 2013 more than 200 people were arrested after clashes broke out in Casablanca between fans of Raja and FAR Rabat.
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