Espérance Sportive de Tunis, Al-Sweihli and Libya Al-Riyadiya
20 October 2026
Tunisian club Espérance have demanded a public apology from Libyan broadcaster Libya Al-Riyadiya following allegations concerning refereeing influence and improper arrangements during their CAF Champions League qualifier against Al-Sweihli. The club strongly rejected the accusations and warned that legal action could follow.
The dispute followed Espérance’s 1-0 first-leg defeat in Misrata. The club accused commentator Saad Al-Bardah and other television analysts of making unsupported claims about its conduct and integrity. In an official statement, Espérance said it was considering contacting media and sporting authorities and could seek to prevent the broadcaster from covering the return leg. The accusations remain allegations, and no disciplinary finding against Espérance was reported.