Algeria was eliminated from the 2022 World Cup, after losing to Cameroon on Tuesday March 29 in the second leg of the play-offs at the Mustapha Tchaker stadium in Blida. The Indomitable Lions scored the qualifying goal in the dying seconds of extra time in a game that was marred by controversial decisions by Gambian referee Bakary Gassama.
Two days after this cruel elimination of the Greens who believed they had done the tough by returning from Cameroon with a victory, the Algerian Football Federation announced on Thursday March 31 that it had filed an appeal against the arbitration of this match with FIFA.
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“We have technical evidence”
The FAF described the refereeing of this match as “scandalous” which “distorted” the result of the match and caused the elimination of the Greens. Asked about this case on Friday, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said he “was not aware” of the FAF’s request and that football was tough. This Tuesday, the Algerian Football Federation gave news on the evolution of this appeal.
“The complaint she has lodged with FIFA will be submitted to the Disciplinary Committee for consideration and decision on April 21”said the federal body in a press release published Tuesday evening.
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In a statement to the El Bilad channel, Salah Bey Aboud, the FAF’s media relations officer, explained that the federal body has no evidence of corruption of the referee Gassama, but that it presented a technical file. “There is a file at FIFA level. We have technical evidence, but we don’t have evidence on moral matters.”he explained, without giving details.
In addition, according to beINSPORTS journalist Yacine Benlamnouar, Djamel Belmadi confided to his relatives his decision to continue his adventure at the head of the national team.
???? Djamel Belmadi informed his close ones that he will continue with the Algerian national team and raise the challenge again pic.twitter.com/lg95hN6R91
— Yacine Benlamnouar (@YBenlamnouar) April 5, 2022