As a result of Algeria’s politicization of Moroccan jerseys depicting the extended, Sahara-inclusive map of the Kingdom, politics remains intertwined with sports, this time going so far to reach the International Football Federation (FIFA). The Algerian Football Federation (FAF) has reportedly lodged a formal complaint with FIFA less than two days before the first leg of the Women’s U17 Football World Cup qualifiers between Morocco and Algeria, scheduled for May 10 in Berkane, according to Algerian media.
Through its correspondence, the FAF intends “to caution against a recurrence of the canceled matches scenario between RS Berkane and USM Alger,” the sports media outlet DzBallon reports.
Algerians had refused to take on RSB due to its uniforms, which Algeria labeled as a “politicized jersey contrary to the laws and regulations of CAF and FIFA,” according to the same source. A similar incident unfolded in a handball match between the two countries’ teams.
When the dispute first arose, the CAF released a statement confirming the compatibility of the jerseys with the norms and that they were approved prior to the start of the competition. Yet, the Algerian media stresses that the jerseys are inconsistent with the regulations. “The Algerian Federation has no desire to tolerate the Moroccan U17 team playing in a jersey that violates CAF and FIFA regulations.”
The report from the same source indicates, “The game is threatened with cancellation like it was for the Inter-Clubs Confederation Cup,” which is unavoidable given that Morocco will be playing in jerseys that have been authorized by the rightful and appropriate football bodies.
The CAF had awarded victories to Morocco’s RSB, in the first and second leg of the CAF’s Cup semi-final–neither of which were played due to Algeria’s failure to honor the fixtures–thus enabling the Moroccan club to face Egypt’s Zamalek squad in the cup final.
Algeria had already boycotted the African Artistic Gymnastics Championship held from April 30 to May 7 in Marrakech. It also withdrew from the Arab Under-20 Handball Championship, won by Morocco against Kuwait for the same reason.