Bafana coach, Moroccans in tunnel bust-up

UP TO 25 police and security guards had to separate members of the Moroccan soccer team and Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund following a fight in the tunnel.

This happened after the North Africans were dumped from the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations tournament at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban last Sunday.

Three sources alleged that the charge was led by the Moroccan assistant coach who, they said, had punched Igesund. A Confederation of African Football (CAF) official confirmed the "punch-up", as did a security official.

Yesterday, Igesund denied that they came to blows , but confirmed that the Moroccans were "swearing" and tried to charge him.

"Words were exchanged . . . I don't even know if it was their assistant coach or players, or some of their technical team. I just ignored it totally because they were frustrated."

He added: "There were police in between us ... but [the Moroccans] were quite aggressive ... Their players were swearing and pointing fingers."

Police and the stadium's security team were seen running into the tunnel after the 2-2 draw, in which Bafana reached the last eight for the first time since 2002. Igesund was apparently "unsettled" after the incident and disappeared into the dressing room for 10 minutes before addressing a press conference.

Bafana spokesman Matlhomola Morake and South African Football Association (Safa) president Kirsten Nematandani denied any knowledge of the incident.

Meanwhile, the security official who was standing near Igesund described how the Bafana coach was punched.

"There was a scuffle. One of the Moroccan officials . . . hit Gordon. It looked like a punch," he said. "There were about 20 or 25 police officers who got between the two teams."

Said Igesund: " I was not physically struck by anybody. I had my very strong security around me and they couldn't get within two yards of me. If someone had leaned over and punched me or slapped me or assaulted me in any way, I certainly would not have accepted that."

On Friday, Safa's head of communications, Dominic Chimhavi, said the incident had not been serious enough to report to the CAF.

"It was just in the heat of the moment . . . it was not an assault. It was just tempers fraying."