Football: Algeria wins case over Moroccan club's controversial jerseys

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled in favor of the Algerian Football Federation on Wednesday in the case opposing it to its Moroccan counterpart and the Confederation of African Football concerning the jerseys of the Moroccan club RS Berkane. These jerseys showed Western Sahara as an integral part of Morocco, which had caused the cancellation of matches that RS Berkane was due to play against the USM Alger club in April 2024.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) had ruled in favor of the Royal Moroccan Federation (FRMF) and RS Berkane and validated the jerseys. But the Algerian Federation (FAF) and USM Alger had brought the case before the CAS, which sits in Lausanne (Switzerland). The latter therefore ruled in favor of the FAF, considering in a press release that "the image of a territorial map of Morocco, including Western Sahara, on the disputed jerseys conveys a message, a demonstration or propaganda of a political nature, given that this map represents the affirmation of a territorial sovereignty which remains to this day contested and still unresolved on the international level" .

Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, is controlled by Morocco at around 80% but claimed by the Sahrawi separatists of the Polisario Front, supported by Algeria. Algeria broke off diplomatic relations with Rabat, its great regional rival, in 2021, in particular because of this issue which fuels regular tensions.

The CAS recalled that in application of the CAF regulations and the laws of the game of the International Football Association Board, "any equipment - including players' jerseys - must not convey any content of a political nature" . It therefore ruled that "the decision of the CAF to maintain the approval of the jerseys is thus annulled and the appeal of the FAF is allowed" .

In April 2024, the first leg of the CAF Cup semi-final between RS Berkane and USM Algiers was cancelled at the last minute in the Algerian capital because the Algerians did not want the Moroccan players to wear the incriminated jersey. The return match in Berkane was also cancelled, leading to the automatic qualification of the Moroccans for the final.

The CAS, however, clarified on Wednesday that its decision "has no effect on the results of the 2023/24 CAF Confederation Cup" , won by the Egyptian club Zamalek who beat RS Berkane in the final.