Morocco’s RS Berkane football club has complained about mistreatment by Algerian authorities upon the team’s arrival at Algiers airport on Friday, ahead of their Confederations Cup semi-final 1st leg against host USM Algers set for this Sunday.
According to sources, RS Berkane players and officials were blocked from leaving Algiers airport on Friday morning because of the team’s official jerseys, which contain the entire map of the Kingdom of Morocco.
According to media sources, the Algerian authorities confiscated the Berkane team delegation’s luggage on arrival at the airport before deciding to search the player’s belongings.
Reports further indicate that Algerian customs refused to allow RS Berkane officials to leave the airport, assuring them of the country’s refusal to allow the Berkane team to be present on Algerian territory with shirts bearing the Moroccan map.
The same sources indicate that the RSB players were subjected to unjustified harassment after arriving at El Houari Boumediene airport from Oujda Angad airport on board a Spanish airline to get around the access restrictions imposed by the Algerian authorities on Moroccan flights.
This adds to the simmering tension between the two neighbours since September 2021, when Algeria decided to close its airspace to all Moroccan aircraft.
The decision has affected the two countries, particularly during sporting events organized by Algeria, in which Morocco participates.
It’s also acknowledged that the Moroccan club’s players are still being held at the airport, pending the decision of the Algerian authorities.
Pending a reaction from CAF, the players and staff of RS Berkane find themselves stranded at the airport in an uncertain situation.
The match between RS Berkane and USMA in the semi-finals of the African Confederation Cup is scheduled for this Sunday, April 21st, at the Stade Omar Hamdi in Algiers.
