The highly anticipated Tripoli derby between Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahly Tripoli was abruptly halted on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, as widespread violence both on and off the pitch forced the match to be abandoned before the end of the first half.
The chaotic scenes at the Tripoli Stadium underscored ongoing tensions in Libyan football, leaving authorities scrambling to address the fallout.
The match, which was ordered to be played behind closed doors by the Libyan Football Federation (LFF), was stopped in the 39th minute following a heated altercation between players.
The trouble began just moments after Al-Ittihad’s Moroccan midfielder Noufel Zerhouni scored a spectacular free-kick in the 38th minute to give his side the lead.
According to reports, Zerhouni’s celebration in front of a section of rival fans ignited tensions, sparking a physical confrontation on the field.
Portuguese referee Fábio José and his officiating team quickly withdrew to the dressing rooms for safety, despite efforts by the match commissioner to restore order and resume play. The game was ultimately abandoned, with no indication of when or if it will be rescheduled.
Compounding the chaos, groups of supporters defied the LFF’s closed-door mandate, breaching security to occupy parts of the stadium.
The unrest spilled into the streets, where reports confirmed that an Al-Ittihad team bus was set ablaze. Fortunately, the bus was empty, and no injuries were reported in the incident.
The LFF has yet to release an official statement regarding the match’s outcome or potential disciplinary measures.
The incident raises serious questions about security arrangements for high-stakes fixtures and the enforcement of crowd control measures in Libyan football.