Algeria denies entry to Moroccan football club over map dispute

Algeria denied entry to Moroccan football club RS Berkane for displaying a complete map of Morocco including the disputed region of western Sahara, on their jerseys. The decision sparked outrage among Moroccans, deploring it as a “politicization of sports” and a “blatant violation of CAF rules.”

According to Moroccan media, team players and staff were stranded at Hoari Boumediene airport in Algiers, with their luggage confiscated. The team was travelling to play in a CAF Confederation Cup semi-final on April 21 and fate of the match awaits a decision from the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

This is not the first example of tensions between Morocco and Algeria spilling over into the sporting arena. In January 2023, members of Morocco’s national football team were forced to leave Rabat-Sale International Airport after Algerian authorities failed to approve their travel to Constantine for African Nations Championship group matches.