Algeria Penalized by Arab Football Federation for Continued Intransigence

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has sanctioned Algerian club USM Alger with a 0-3 forfeit for their cancelled home match against Morocco's RS Berkane in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup semi-final. In a letter dated April 24, 2024, CAF's Director of Tournaments and Events, Samson Adamu, informed the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) that the case will be submitted to the Disciplinary Jury for possible additional sanctions.

The match, originally scheduled to take place in Algeria, was called off after Algerian authorities seized the jerseys of the Moroccan team upon their arrival. The jerseys featured an outline of Morocco that included the disputed territory of Western Sahara, which Algeria claims as an independent state. RS Berkane refused to play the match without their official kits, resulting in the cancellation.

This incident marks the latest in a series of political tensions between Algeria and Morocco spilling over into the sporting arena. In a separate event, Algeria's U17 handball team withdrew from the Arab Championship to avoid facing a Moroccan squad wearing jerseys displaying the complete map of Morocco. The Algerian Handball Federation accused Morocco of subjecting their delegation to mistreatment and a "systematic campaign of harassment."

CAF had previously ruled that the RS Berkane jerseys were legitimate, as the club had worn them in prior matches without issue. However, Algeria refused to accept the decision, with FAF president Walid Sadi announcing intentions to escalate the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup semi-final is still scheduled to take place in Morocco on April 28, but doubts remain over whether USM Alger will participate.

Why this matters: The ongoing disputes between Algeria and Morocco over the Western Sahara region are increasingly impacting sports competitions and athlete participation. These incidents highlight the challenges in separating political conflicts from international sporting events and the need for governing bodies to navigate sensitive geopolitical issues.

The Algerian Football Federation now faces potential further sanctions from CAF's Disciplinary Jury for the USM Alger forfeit. As stated by CAF in their letter, "The return match RS Berkane Morocco vs USMA Algeria of the TotalEnergies Confederation Cup 2023/2024 at the Municipal Stadium of Berkane at 8:00 p.m. local time on April 28, 2024, is maintained." The football world awaits to see if Algeria will continue their unyielding stance or comply with CAF's rulings to prevent further penalties and disruptions to the competition.

Key Takeaways

• CAF sanctions Algerian club USM Alger with 0-3 forfeit for cancelled match vs Moroccan club.
• Jerseys of Moroccan club RS Berkane were seized by Algerian authorities, leading to match cancellation.
• Ongoing political tensions between Algeria and Morocco over Western Sahara spill into sports.
• CAF maintains second leg of semi-final between RS Berkane and USM Alger on April 28, 2024.
• Algerian Football Federation faces potential further sanctions from CAF's Disciplinary Jury.