The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has issued a final ruling in the controversial case between USM Alger (Algeria) and RS Berkane (Morocco) in the CAF Confederation Cup for the 2023/2024 season. This decision represents a humiliating defeat for Morocco, which attempted to use football as a tool to legitimize its illegal occupation of Western Sahara. However, its efforts have failed miserably, as CAS has reaffirmed that political manipulation has no place in sports.
Morocco’s Attempt to Politicize Football and Impose an Illegal Narrative
On April 21, 2024, USM Alger was scheduled to face RS Berkane in the CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finals. However, the Algerian team refused to play the match after discovering that RS Berkane’s jerseys featured a political map depicting Western Sahara as part of Morocco.
This was an explicit attempt by Morocco to use football as a tool for political propaganda, violating international law and CAF regulations, which prohibit political symbols in official competitions. Despite USM Alger’s protests, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) initially sided with RS Berkane, awarding them a 3-0 forfeit victory—a biased and unlawful decision.
However, Algeria, through the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) and USM Alger, refused to accept this injustice and decided to take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to overturn the unfair ruling and restore justice.
CAS Puts an End to Morocco’s Political Exploitation of Football
After a thorough examination of the case, CAS delivered a ruling that crushed Morocco’s attempt to impose its false political narrative through sports. The key points of the decision are:
- The annulment of CAF’s Appeals Committee decision of April 21, 2024, which had awarded the victory to RS Berkane.
- The rejection of the legitimacy of RS Berkane’s jerseys, as they contained a political map violating CAF’s regulations.
- The acceptance of the Algerian Football Federation’s appeal, confirming that Algeria’s position was legal and justified.
- The acknowledgment that USM Alger was not obliged to play the match under such conditions, as its opponent had violated sporting regulations.
- Confirmation that this ruling is final and cannot be appealed, meaning that Morocco has no legal means to challenge the outcome.
The Real Meaning of This Decision: A Blow to Moroccan Propaganda
With this ruling, CAS has confirmed that Western Sahara is not part of Morocco and that any attempt to use football to legitimize this false claim is illegal and unacceptable.
This decision is a major victory for the Sahrawi people, who continue to fight for their right to self-determination. It also proves that international law stands with truth and justice, not with Morocco’s deceptive propaganda. Furthermore, Algeria, a staunch defender of just causes, has successfully exposed Morocco’s manipulation before the highest sports arbitration body in the world.
Reactions to the Decision
In Algeria and Western Sahara, the ruling was celebrated as a historic triumph against Moroccan deception and political interference in sports.
In contrast, Moroccan media attempted to downplay the ruling, but they could not hide the fact that CAS had rejected their unlawful attempt to enforce their territorial claims through football.
What Comes Next? Will CAF Reform Its Policies?
This ruling sets a major precedent against the politicization of football in Africa. From now on, CAF must reconsider how it handles political issues in sports or risk facing more legal challenges in the future.
Meanwhile, Algeria has once again proven that it upholds international law and will not tolerate any violations, whether in sports or politics.
Conclusion: A Victory for Justice and International Law
The CAS ruling is not just a sports decision—it is a major blow to Morocco’s attempts to force its false narrative onto the world through football. It is a victory for justice, for international law, and for the Sahrawi people in their ongoing struggle for self-determination.
Algeria has once again demonstrated that it remains a guardian of legality and a strong opponent of political manipulation in sports, ensuring that football remains a neutral and fair competition, free from political agendas.
This decision is a resounding slap in the face for CAF, once again confirming that it is an organization plagued by corruption and under the influence of the Moroccan Fouzi Lekjaa. How can anyone seriously believe that the blatantly political nature of Morocco’s illegal map, including the occupied Western Sahara, went unnoticed by CAF’s legal experts responsible for approving team kits within the Competitions Commission? There is no doubt that a clear complicity with Morocco has taken place in this matter. The coming days will be decisive: will Patrice Motsepe have the courage to impose sanctions on those who participated in this scandal, which flagrantly undermines integrity and ethics within CAF?
Belgacem Merbah
Sources and References
- Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) – Official Report on the USM Alger vs RS Berkane Case (2025).
- Official website of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
- Official statements from the Algerian Football Federation (FAF).
- UN reports on the legal status of Western Sahara.
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