CAF Awards 3-0 Win to Renaissance Berkane Over USM Alger in Confederation Cup Semifinal

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has awarded a 3-0 forfeit win to Morocco's Renaissance Berkane over their Algerian rivals USM Alger in the 2024 CAF Confederation Cup semifinal. The decision came after a dispute over Berkane's playing jerseys, which featured a map of Morocco including the disputed Western Sahara territory.

Customs officers in Algeria had confiscated Berkane's shirts upon their arrival, and USM Alger refused to play the match unless Berkane wore different jerseys. CAF ruled in favor of Berkane, stating that the club had been using the same jerseys since the start of the tournament.

The Algerian football federation (FAF) objected to the jerseys, but CAF sided with Berkane, acknowledging that the team had consistently worn those jerseys throughout the tournament. FAF president Walid Sadi has expressed his intention to escalate the matter to the international sports court.

Why this matters: The incident highlights the ongoing diplomatic tensions between Algeria and Morocco, which have spilled over into the sporting arena. The border between the two countries has been closed since 2021 after Algeria broke off relations with Morocco.

CAF stated that the second leg in Morocco will go ahead as scheduled on April 28, 2024 at Berkane's local stadium. USM Alger, the defending champions of the 2023 CAF Confederation Cup, will be obligated to play the return leg and face further sanctions.

Key Takeaways

• CAF awarded 3-0 forfeit win to Morocco's Berkane over Algeria's USM Alger in Confederation Cup semifinal
• Dispute over Berkane's jerseys featuring map of disputed Western Sahara territory led to confiscation by Algerian customs
• CAF ruled in favor of Berkane, stating they had consistently used the jerseys throughout the tournament
• Algerian FA plans to escalate the matter to international sports court, highlighting diplomatic tensions between Algeria and Morocco
• Defending champions USM Alger obligated to play the return leg and face further sanctions