Malagasy football riot leaves fan in coma

By Fanja Saholiarisoa

ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) - A Malagasy football fan was fighting for his life on Sunday after a cancelled match between teams from Madagascar and Mozambique led to rioting, hospital and match officials said.

"(The fan) is badly injured and still in a coma," said Bruno Andriamiarana, the director of the capital's Joseph Ravoahangy Andrianavalona hospital.

The match between Madagascar's Ajesaia and Mozambique's Costa Do Sol was cancelled because of a disagreement over a match official.

"At the last moment, the Confederation of African Football did not accept the Malagasy touch judge," said Jeremia Randriambololona, Ajesaia's trainer.

When the cancellation was announced, angry fans began ripping up the stadium's seats and other fittings, said a local sports journalist at the scene, Dina Razafimahatratra.

Two policemen were also injured and a total 13 people arrested, police sources said.

The match would have been the second leg of an African Champions' League match. Ajesaia lost the first leg 2-0.

"We're unhappy because the organisers could have told us beforehand that there wouldn't be a match," said spectator Serge Rakotoson.