Algeria Sanctioned by CAF for Forfeiting Match Against Moroccan Club

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially sanctioned Algerian club USM Alger for forfeiting their home match in the cancelled CAF Confederation Cup semi-final first leg duel with Morocco's RS Berkane. CAF informed the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) that USM Alger has been sanctioned with a 0-3 forfeit for the match, and the case has been submitted to the Disciplinary Jury for possible additional sanctions.

According to a letter from CAF's Director of Tournaments and Events, Samson Adamu, the CAF Committee for the Organization of Interclub Competitions and the Management of the Club Licensing System sanctioned USM Alger with the forfeit. The return leg match between RS Berkane and USM Alger is still scheduled to take place on April 28, 2024, but it remains to be seen if USM Alger will honor the match.

The dispute arose when Algerian authorities confiscated the jerseys of RS Berkane upon their arrival in Algeria because they featured the undivided map of Morocco, including the disputed Western Sahara territory. USM Alger refused to play the match unless Berkane wore different jerseys. However, CAF ruled in favor of Berkane, stating that the club had been wearing the same jerseys since the beginning of the competition.

Why this matters: This incident highlights the ongoing political tensions between Algeria and Morocco that have spilled over into the sporting realm. Algeria has consistently used sporting events to push its political agenda and undermine Morocco's diplomatic breakthroughs on the Western Sahara question.

The Algerian football federation (FAF) president, Walid Sadi, announced that he intends to take the case to the "international court of sport" over the jersey issue. This follows a similar incident where the Algerian U-17 national handball team withdrew from the Arab Championship to avoid playing against a Moroccan squad with jerseys bearing the Kingdom's full map including Sahara provinces.

CAF's decision to sanction USM Alger with a forfeit comes as Algeria's hostility towards Morocco appears to be taking a new turn, with the country increasingly resorting to the politicization of sport to settle political scores. The incidents have resulted in Algerian teams losing matches without playing them and have been seen as a lack of sportsmanship by the Algerian regime.

Key Takeaways

• CAF sanctions Algerian club USM Alger for forfeiting match vs Moroccan club RS Berkane.
• Dispute arose over Berkane's jerseys featuring undivided map of Morocco, including Western Sahara.
• Algerian authorities confiscated Berkane's jerseys, leading to USM Alger's refusal to play.
• CAF ruled in favor of Berkane, stating they had worn the same jerseys since the start.
• Incident highlights political tensions between Algeria and Morocco spilling into sports.