The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has delivered a decisive verdict, dismissing an appeal lodged by the Algeria Football Federation (FAF) against the jersey design of RS Berkane, the Moroccan football club. The contentious issue centered around the depiction of the Moroccan map, which extends to include the Moroccan Sahara.
The saga began when RS Berkane, the visiting Moroccan club, arrived for their CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinal 1st leg match against the host USM Algiers. The Algerian Football Federation provided alternate jerseys featuring only the sponsor’s name and the Moroccan flag, omitting the complete map of Morocco. However, the RSB players staunchly refused to wear these erroneous jerseys.
The CAF Interclubs Committee had previously granted permission to RS Berkane to don their official jerseys, complete with the full Moroccan map, for the crucial encounter. The committee deemed the jersey design compliant with the framework of the Total Energies Confederation Cup 2023/24 and dismissed the Algerian Federation’s request for restrictions.
Undeterred, the Algeria Football Federation escalated the matter by appealing to the CAF Appeals Jury. On Sunday evening, the jury rendered its decision: the appeal was rejected, affirming RS Berkane’s right to wear their distinctive jerseys.
The ruling has significant implications for both clubs. RS Berkane will now face USM Algiers in the first leg, with the overall winner advancing to the final against either Zamalek of Egypt or Dreams of Ghana. For USM Algiers, the 0-3 home defeat due to the jersey dispute adds to their woes.
The CAF’s decision underscores the importance of sportsmanship and adherence to regulations.
As the semifinal unfolds, all eyes remain fixed on the pitch, where RS Berkane’s jerseys proudly display the contours of Morocco, bridging the gap between sport and geopolitics.
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