Arrr, Algeria and Morocco tussle o'er soccer shirt in court like landlubbers bickering o'er treasure map! Aye, mateys!
2024-05-02
Arrr! Thar be a ruckus between Morocco and Algeria o'er a piece o' cloth with a bit o' land on it! They be takin' their squabble to a grand court o' sport to settle their differences like true swashbucklers! Yarrr!
In the midst of a soccer politics dispute between Algeria and Morocco lies a disagreement over a map of disputed Western Sahara territory on a team jersey, which has escalated to a full appeal hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The two sides are currently exchanging written submissions with no set timeline for appointing judges or scheduling a hearing. The Algerian soccer federation and USM Alger club are challenging a decision by the Confederation of African Football to allow Moroccan club RS Berkane to wear jerseys featuring disputed territory.This dispute has already impacted the CAF Confederation Cup, leading to both semifinal games being awarded as 3-0 wins to Berkane. Despite the upcoming final matches, the court has not indicated if the Algerian appeal will be resolved before then. Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony annexed by Morocco in 1975, remains a point of contention between the two nations.Algeria's actions, including seizing Berkane's uniforms and refusing to play in protest, have led to CAF rulings in favor of Berkane. The full appeal now involves CAF, the Moroccan soccer federation, and Berkane, with influential figures like Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Moroccan federation, at the center of the controversy.