The first leg semi-final of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup (CAF CC) between USM Alger/ USMA of Algeria and RS Berkane/RSB Morocco was canceled at the 5-Juillet-1962 Stadium in Algiers due to a disagreement over the map emblazoned on the jerseys of the Moroccan team that led to their confiscation by Algerian authorities.
The decision was made after RS Berkane, the visiting Moroccan club, refused to play without their official jerseys featuring the complete map of Morocco, extending to its Sahara.
The Algerian Football Federation (FAF) provided erroneous alternate jerseys featuring only the sponsor’s name and the Moroccan flag, but the RSB players refused to wear them.
Upon arrival at the stadium, the RS Berkane players and staff clarified their position to the match referee, stating that they would refuse to participate if not allowed to wear their official jerseys, which are approved by the CAF.
The football t-shirts contested by the FAF became a point of contention between the two clubs and authorities, eventually leading to the game’s cancellation.
In response to the match annulment, the CAF issued a statement, expressing regret for the inconvenience caused to sponsors, TV partners, and fans. The matter will be escalated to the appropriate authorities for further review and resolution, according to the statement.
With the dispute escalating beyond the realm of sportsmanship, the case is set to be deliberated in the offices of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The FAF attempted to dispute the decision to permit Berkane’s team to wear jerseys that had the complete map of Morocco. However, their appeal was rejected by the CAF, which had initially authorized the design and content of the jerseys’ graphics at the beginning of the season.
Algerian officials declined to return the jerseys that were confiscated at the airport, even after receiving an urgent letter from the CAF instructing them to release the Moroccan players’ equipment.
On Friday, the RSB Berkane delegation was denied entry to the Houari Boumediene Airport by Algerian officials. Security officers detained the team for several hours and seized their belongings. Later, the RSB delegation was asked to cover up the entire map of Morocco with stickers, which the club refused to do, stating that doing so was “absurd” and “inappropriate.”