THE ALGERIAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION (FAF) AND UNION SPORTIVE MEDINA D'ALGER (USM ALGER) FILE AN APPEAL AT THE COURT OF ARBITRATION FOR SPORT (CAS) REGARDING THE SHIRTS OF RS BERKANE
Lausanne, 2 May 2024 - The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has registered the appeal filed by the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) and Union Sportive Medina d'Alger (USM Alger) (“the Appellants”) against the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the Royal Maroccan Football Federation (FRMF) and Club Renaissance Sportive de Berkane (RS Berkane) (“the Respondents”) against the decision taken by the CAF Appeals Jury dated 21 April 2024 (“the Challenged Decision”). This decision confirmed the earlier decision taken by the CAF Interclubs Committee, which validated the use of RS Berkane's shirts for the 2023/24 CAF Confederation Cup.
Together with their appeal, the Appellants filed an urgent request to immediately suspend the execution of the Challenged Decision. This request was rejected ex parte by the President of the CAS Appeals Arbitration Division on 26 April 2024.
In their appeal on the merits, the Appellants ask CAS to annul the Challenged Decision and to rule that the RS Berkane shirt, which the Appellants consider presents a political message, contravenes the laws of the game, CAF regulations and FIFA rules.
In relation to the arbitration procedure, the parties are currently exchanging written submissions and the arbitral panel that will be decide the matter is being appointed. Once constituted, the arbitral panel will issue instructions for the next phase of the proceedings, including the holding of a hearing.
At this juncture, it is not possible to give any further details on the timetable for this procedure.
For further information related to the CAS activity and procedures in general, please contact either Matthieu Reeb, CAS Director General, or Katy Hogg, Communications Officer. Palais de Beaulieu, avenue Bergières 10, 1004 Lausanne, Switzerland.
EDITORS’ FOOTNOTE:
Morocco and Algeria have long-standing political tensions over the territory of the Western Sahara, which have now reached the football pitch and the court room, namely, the CAS.
A controversial map displaying the disputed region on a shirt of a Moroccan team, namely RS Berkan, has led to semi-finals matches, in a continental tournament, being cancelled, a place being awarded in the final to one of the two teams, and the issue being referred to the CAS.
Morocco claims 80% of the Western Sahara region and the remainder is overseen by the Algerian-supported Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and the Polisario Front.
The Regulations of the International Football Association Board provide that “no political statements or images or the shape of a country or territory” may be included on kits.