Algeria Penalized by CAF for Intransigence in Confederation Cup Semifinal

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has sanctioned Algerian club USM Alger with a 0-3 forfeit in their African Confederation Cup semifinal match against Moroccan club Renaissance Berkane. The match was cancelled due to 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, leading to the match being called off. CAF ruled in favor of Berkane, stating that the club had been wearing the same jerseys since the start of the tournament. "Sanction Club USMA with a forfeit of 0-3 for match no. 129 USMA Algeria vs RS Berkane Morocco of the TotalEnergies Confederation Cup 2023/2024," CAF's Director of Tournaments and Events, Samson Adamu, stated in a letter addressed to the Algerian Football Federation (FAF).

The letter also noted that the case has been submitted to the Disciplinary Jury for possible additional sanctions and that the return leg match between RS Berkane and USM Alger is still scheduled to take place on April 28, 2024. However, it remains to be seen if USM Alger will honor the match, as Algeria has previously pulled out of a scheduled handball fixture against Morocco due to the map on the Moroccan team's shirts.

This incident is the latest in a series of tensions between Algeria and Morocco in football, stemming from the long-standing political dispute over Western Sahara. The Algerian Football Federation (FAF) president Walid Sadi announced plans to take the case to the "international court of sport" over the jersey issue.

Why this matters: The diplomatic spat between Algeria and Morocco has spilled over into the sporting arena, with tensions over Western Sahara being a key factor. The border between the two countries has been closed since August 2021, and Moroccan aircraft have been banned from entering Algerian airspace.

Key Takeaways

• CAF awarded 0-3 forfeit to Moroccan club Renaissance Berkane over jersey dispute.
• Algerian club USM Alger sanctioned for the incident, with possible further sanctions.
• Return leg match between the clubs is scheduled for April 28, 2024.
• Dispute stems from long-standing political tensions between Algeria and Morocco over Western Sahara.
• Algerian FA plans to take the case to the "international court of sport" over the jersey issue.