Minutes before kick-off, the highly anticipated CAF Confederation Cup clash between USM Alger of Algeria and Renaissance Berkane of Morocco faced an abrupt cancellation due to a contentious issue regarding Berkane’s jerseys.
Renaissance Berkane had journeyed to Algeria in preparation for the semi-final first leg scheduled against USM Alger on Sunday. However, Algerian media reported that upon their arrival, Berkane’s jerseys were confiscated by customs authorities.
The reason cited was the presence of a map of Morocco on the jerseys, particularly highlighting the disputed Western Sahara territory. Tensions escalated as footage emerged showing clashes between Berkane’s team staff and players with Algerian authorities at the airport.
AFP reported that just moments before the planned kick-off, USM Alger’s sporting director Toufik Korichi announced on Algerian radio that the match was called off. This decision stemmed from Berkane’s refusal to compete in alternative jerseys following the dispute over their original ones.
Western Sahara, a region with a complex political status, is predominantly under Moroccan governance, while the Algeria-supported Polisario Front advocates for its independence. The severed diplomatic relations between Algeria and Morocco in 2021, partly fueled by this territorial dispute, added to the sensitivity of the situation.
Notably, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) had responded to an appeal lodged by the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) regarding Berkane’s jerseys the day before the match. CAF affirmed that Berkane had consistently used the same jerseys throughout the tournament, seemingly intensifying the last-minute standoff.
Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that Morocco is set to co-host the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal, further underscoring the significance of the regional dynamics at play.
FAF President Wafi Sadi then announced his intention to escalate the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). “Our position is clear, we will not back down and we are ready for anything,” he said. He also claimed Berkane would be supplied with “high-quality shirts” which did not show the disputed map.
That move was refused by Berkane with club president Hakim Benabdellah telling Moroccan media outlet Hespress, “There will be no debate on this subject. There will be no match without shirts with the complete map of the Kingdom of Morocco.”
CAF released a statement late on Sunday reading, “The TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup first leg semi-final fixture today, 21 April 2024, between USM Alger and RS Berkane in Algiers, Algeria did not take place as scheduled. The matter will be referred to the competent bodies. CAF apologizes for any inconvenience caused to our sponsors, TV partners and the supporters.”