Tripoli sees unrest after chaos during league title play-off match

Part of the headquarters of Libya’s Government of National Unity in central Tripoli was damaged by fire late on Thursday night after unrest linked to a controversial football match escalated into street violence in the capital.

The disturbances came hours after chaotic scenes during a Libyan Premier League title play-off fixture between Al-Ittihad SC and Al-Suwaihli SC at Tarhuna Stadium, south-east of Tripoli.

Tensions erupted in the closing stages of the match when Al-Ittihad players and supporters protested against the referee’s decision not to award a late penalty. The situation quickly deteriorated as supporters forced their way onto the pitch, prompting security forces to intervene.

Footage shared widely on social media showed scenes of panic inside the stadium, with gunfire echoing across the ground and ambulances moving injured people away from the scene. Security personnel were later seen attempting to disperse those who had entered the field.

Although supporters are officially banned from attending Libyan league matches under existing security measures, the incident highlighted the continuing difficulty authorities face in containing tensions surrounding high-profile domestic fixtures.

Abdullah Faraj, director of Tarhuna Sports City, said the unrest caused damage to several parts of the stadium complex, including a television broadcast vehicle that was set ablaze.

Unrest spreads to the capital

As anger over the match spread, disturbances were also reported in Tripoli’s Bab Ben Gashir district, an area that houses the headquarters of Al-Ittihad SC and lies close to the offices of the Government of National Unity.

According to local sources speaking to Libyan Express, groups of young men gathered outside the prime minister’s headquarters late on Thursday, where fireworks were launched towards the building during the protests.

The incident triggered a fire in part of the complex before civil defence teams managed to contain the blaze. Security forces later dispersed the gathering and sealed off the surrounding area.

The Government of National Unity had not issued an official statement on the incidents by Friday morning.

No official casualty figures have been released, while the extent of the material damage in both Tarhuna and Tripoli remains unclear.