ALGERIA – CAMEROON FOOTBALL. Fifa’s decision is still awaited after the appeal filed by Algeria following refereeing errors during the qualifying match for the World Cup.
While the appeal filed by the Algerian Federation is still under study by Fifa since April 21 (a response is expected within 15 days), tongues have been loosening for a few days. In an interview with the Algerian Federation on April 24, Djamel Belmadi ranted at the referee. “Never again in life will we let two or three people conspire against our country. We will never again see a referee like that harm a country. I have to say that I did not like the day after the departure of this referee, at Algiers airport, to see him comfortably seated in the lounges drinking a coffee with a millefeuille.” During this interview, Djamel Belmadi also confided that he had spoken several times since then with the referee in question: “I emptied my bag at this referee, I crossed him a Turkey afterwards and I told him the same thing again. I told him who he was. I did not like that we can accept this sort of thing.
This Wednesday, April 27, the resigning president of the Algerian Football Federation, Charaf-Eddine Amara justified the words of his coach. “Djamel Belmadi’s statements were misunderstood. The coach never broached the subject of Cameroon, he was just talking about the refereeing which was poor during our meeting” before continuing “Eto’o is a friend of mine , we do not doubt the honesty of Cameroon during the match. We only talked about the refereeing and I tell Eto’o that we must not forget the solidarity on our part so that Cameroon can organize its last CAN”.
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. It 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 of the world Cup Qatar 2022.”
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.