“A dirty Westerner.” This is how an assistant referee insulted an Algerian player!

French newspapers, led by Foot365, touched on the serious issue of insulting an assistant referee, which sparked controversy following the Algeria-Nigeria match, after the Algerian newspaper Compétition revealed that player Haj Moussa was subjected to a direct racist insult from one of the referee’s assistants, who described him with the phrase “dirty Arab” while the two teams were heading to the locker rooms, in shocking behavior that goes beyond the limits of refereeing errors and affects human and sporting values.

In this context, this incident was considered the most dangerous thing the match witnessed, as it represents a dangerous slide in African stadiums, where referees are supposed to be the first defenders of the principles of respect and equality. This insult was issued, according to what was reported by the Algerian newspaper, at a moment of tension, but it does not in any way justify the issuance of a racist speech from an official responsible for enforcing the laws of the game.

In the same context, the criticism did not stop there, as French media re-shed light on the refereeing performance of Senegalese referee Issa Sy, whom the Algerians accused of injustice and of directly influencing the outcome of the match. Among the most controversial points was his ignoring the award of a possible penalty kick at the beginning of the match, in addition to the many warnings directed at the Algerian national team players, which increased the pressure on them throughout the match.

On the other hand, the referee’s actions after the final whistle contributed to inflaming the situation, after he refused to shake hands with a number of Algerian players, which was clearly provocative, insulting, and unprofessional behavior. It caused severe friction in the corridors of the Marrakesh Stadium between players and members of the technical staff.

In light of the seriousness of these developments, the Algerian Football Federation moved quickly and announced in an official statement that it had submitted a complaint to the Confederation of African Football and FIFA, demanding the opening of a comprehensive and independent investigation. The Federation confirmed that what happened not only harms Algeria, but also harms the image of African arbitration and the reputation of continental football.

On the other hand, although CAF announced the opening of an investigation, the focus – according to what was reported by French media – was on the actions of some Algerian players and officials after the match, in clear disregard for the essence of the case, which is represented by racist insults and serious arbitration errors.

In conclusion, this case confirms that Algeria is not looking for justification for exclusion, as much as it is demanding respect and justice. Fighting racism inside stadiums is not an option, but rather a moral and legal responsibility, and football bodies must prove their true commitment to these principles.

@Alaa Omri