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FIFA has rejected the Algerian football federation’s request for a replay of the second leg of the World Cup playoffs between Algeria’s Desert Foxes and Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions.
The Algerian Football Federation (FAF) had filed a complaint to the world’s football governing body in March, calling for a replay of their second World Cup playoff game against Cameroon.
Instead, FIFA hit Algeria today with a 3,000 Swiss franc ($3,000) fine for order and security misconduct during the breathless Algeria-Cameroon game held at Mustapha Tchaker Stadium in Blida, Algeria.
Justifying the financial sanction, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee cited incidents of “throwing of objects and lighting of fireworks” by Algerian fans.
The Algerian federation’s rematch request has been trending on Algeria’s social media in the past two months, with many Algerian fans holding their breath as they waited for the final decision of the world’s football governing body.
Many in Algeria have argued that the referee’s decision to disallow a goal by Algeria’s team was a decisive shift in the second leg against Cameroon, shattering the Algerian squad’s hopes of advancing to the 2022 World Cup expected to be held in Qatar later this year.
Yet some Algerian news outlets have attributed Algeria’s failure to the World Cup to some invisible hands working behind the scenes to frustrate Algerians.
Read also: Support for Palestine: The New Frontier in Algeria’s Obsession with Morocco
In a show aired last week on Algerian news channel El Bilad TV, one of the guests overtly accused French-Moroccan actor Jamel Debbouze of conspiring against the Algerian team.
He argued that Debbouze’s “far-reaching influence” impacted Gambian referee Bakary Gassama’s decisions during the Algeria-Cameroon game.
In its complaint issued to the FIFA, the FAF also argued that Gassama’s “refereeing gaffes” are the reason Algeria did not qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
“The FAF demands that FIFA open an investigation into the Algeria-Cameroon game officiating mistakes,” read the complaint.
The Algerian team’s failure to qualify for the upcoming World Cup caused an uproar among Algerian fans who caused havoc in the stands.
Following Algeria’s 2-1 loss against Cameroon, footage circulated on social media platforms showed the destruction of seats at the stadium hosting the edgy match as Algerians weren’t pleased with the game’s final result.
