ALGERIA – CAMEROON FOOTBALL. While FIFA’s decision is long overdue, Algeria has contacted the Gambia Federation to calm things down.
Under consideration since April 21, Fifa’s decision on the Algeria-Cameroon match is still pending, but could be revealed in the coming days or even hours. In the meantime, in the face of controversy, accusations in particular against the referee of the meeting, the FAF and the Gambia Federation have communicated to ease the tensions that have existed for a few days. “The two men had a long discussion on this subject, where each explained his position vis-à-vis what happened, in particular the Algerian party who recalled that it was in its absolute right to introduce a complaint relating to an arbitration having weighed, according to it, on the result of a meeting as important as that qualifying for a World Cup“.
A few days ago, according to information from Hafid Derradji, the referee of the match Bakary Gassama, instead of going directly to Algeria to referee the qualifying match for the World Cup, would have made passages through Tunis and Rabat to meet on this occasion, still according to the journalist, intermediaries of Samuel Eto’o, the president of the Cameroonian Federation. If the revelations must be taken with caution, the journalist nevertheless indicates that this information was indeed communicated by the Algerian Federation to Fifa.
Samuel Eto’o’s response to Djamel Belmadi’s accusations
Following the remarks, the president of the Cameroonian Federation Samuel Eto’o took the floor and threatened the coach with legal action. The Cameroonian Football Federation expresses its deep concern following the remarks made on April 24, 2022 by Mr. Djamel Belmadi, the coach-selector of the Fennecs of Algeria, following the match counting for the play-offs Africa Zone of the Cup World Cup Qatar 2022, dropped the Cameroonian body via a communicated signed by President Samuel Eto’o. […] Cameroon reserves the right to bring the matter before the FIFA Ethics Commission in the coming days. Fécafoot disputes these defamatory allegations instilled in an allusive manner and repeatedly formulated by Algerian football leaders, continued the body chaired by Samuel Eto’o in its document published Monday evening. She regrets that the persistence of this long-term controversy is likely to provoke incidents similar to the verbal aggression suffered by Cameroonian officials on April 1 in Doha on the sidelines of the draw for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
Proven corruption?
The bomb was dropped by an Egyptian journalist Maher Genina a few weeks ago. According to the specialist of the On Time Sports channel, “FIFA’s investigation has taken another turn with new elements in favor of Algeria”. The journalist referred to a compromising audio recording, adding that “FIFA is currently investigating the case of a referee who received a sum of money by transfer to his account via a company belonging to a president of a federation whose selection is qualified for the next world cup”.
The match replayed, what decision from Fifa?
Several scenarios are possible after the appeal filed by Algeria:
- FIFA finds insufficient evidence and/or considers errors intriguing and Algeria will stay well at home for the next World Cup
- FIFA considers that the errors are too substantial and in this case the participation of Algeria in the next World Cup is still possible because the match could be replayed
- Suspicions on the referee of the match and in this case, the match will be replayed
- FIFA reports proven corruption and in this case, the match could directly be given to the Algerians with a victory on green carpet. The Fennecs would therefore be qualified for the next World Cup in place of Cameroon.