Fourteen Tunisian detainees were released on Saturday in the wake of the clashes that marred Ahli's Champions League clash at home to Esperance. The Esperance supporters were arrested after rioting in the stands of Cairo Stadium during Ahli's 2-1 victory in the first leg of the Champions League semi final last week. General prosecutor Abdel-Meguid Mahmoud said they were now free to return home, stressing on 'the friendly relationship between Egypt and Tunisia'. "We don't want such individual acts to tarnish the relationship between both countries," Mahmoud was quoted as saying by local media. Reports also suggested that Mahmoud's decision came after a meeting between Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and his Tunisian counterpart Zine El Abidine Ben Ali on the eve of the extraordinary Arab summit in Libyan city Sirt. Some of Esperance fans ripped up seats and let off illegal fireworks when right-back Ahmed Fathi gave Ahli a 2-1 lead in the second half. TV cameras also caught them beating up two stewards, who were subsequently taken to hospital for treatment, to spark outrage in Egypt. The Tunisian Football Federation and the country's ambassador to Egypt apologized for the unfortunate incidents. Ahli, who said they would not file a complaint against Esperance, called on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to start a crackdown on the culprits. The African governing body revealed that its disciplinary committee will investigate the crowd trouble which blemished an otherwise exciting clash at the 74,100-seat Cairo Stadium. The second leg will take place in Tunisia at El Menzah Stadium on October 17.
