African football body Caf are probing violent behaviour by footballers and officials of Sudanese club Al Merrikh toward a referee during a Confederation Cup playoff in Morocco.

Gabonese Eric Otogo-Castane had to retreat from the six-yard box to the centre circle late on Wednesday as he was repeatedly pushed by players furious at the harsh awarding of a penalty.

Moroccan TV showed a burly Merrikh official hitting the referee on the side of the face in Marrakech before being led from the field by a member of the Sudanese team.

Caf spokesman Junior Binyam said the Cairo-based organisation are studying footage of the incident while waiting for the match officials’ report.

The mayhem lasted 12 minutes before Mohamed El Fakih converted the tie-deciding penalty for local club Kawkab, who won the second leg 2-0 and the playoff 2-1 on aggregate.

Kawkab and fellow Moroccan club FUS Rabat are among eight qualifiers for the group draw in Cairo on May 24.

Title-holders Etoile Sahel of Tunisia, TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Al Ahly Tripoli of Libya, Medeama of Ghana, Mouloudia Bejaia of Algeria and Young Africans of Tanzania complete the line-up.

The second-tier Confederation Cup is the African equivalent of the Uefa Europa League and offers a $660 000 first prize.

Collins Okinyo

Ex- CAF Media Expert. An expert on African football with over 15 years experience ,always with an ear to the ground with indepth knowledge of the game. I have worked for top publications including 7 years at www.supersport.com until i founded www.soka25east.com to quench the thirst of football lovers across the continent. I have trained young upcoming journalists who are now a voice in African football.I have covered World Cup,AFCON,CHAN,Champions League,Confederations Cup,Cecafa,Cosafa,Wafu and many other football tournaments across the World. Founder Football Africa Arena(FAA),Founder www.afrisportdigital.com