Rising Tensions on the Pitch
A heated encounter between Tripoli’s Al‑Ittihad Sporting Club and Misrata’s Asswehly Sporting Club in the town of Tarhunah turned violent on Saturday, after a penalty‑kick protest by Al‑Ittihad players led the match officials to suspend play.
Supporters clashed with security forces outside the stadium, throwing stones and sparking confrontations that quickly escalated into street fighting.
In response, the 444th Combat Brigade was dispatched to restore order; the unit later reported that one of its soldiers had been killed by gunfire, while several players and journalists covering the match were among those injured.
The unrest spread to the capital, where a group of agitators targeted the Libyan Presidential Council’s headquarters, igniting a fire that was extinguished by emergency crews within minutes.
The council issued a call for a thorough investigation into the incidents, noting that the disturbances represent the most serious civil unrest in the capital in several months, echoing earlier clashes in Zawiya that left nine dead and dozens wounded.