February 27 – The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ruled in favour of the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) in its dispute with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), and Moroccan club RS Berkane over the team’s controversial shirts.
The ruling overturns CAF’s earlier approval of the kit, which displayed a map of Morocco that included the contested territory of Western Sahara.
The case, which has sparked political debate beyond the football pitch, centred on whether the map constituted a political message. FAF, along with USM Alger, argued that the design violated CAF regulations, FIFA rules, and the Laws of the Game, all of which prohibit political symbols on football kits.
The dispute reached CAS after CAF’s Appeals Jury ruled in April 2024 that RS Berkane’s shirts were compliant, allowing the club to wear them throughout the 2023/24 CAF Confederation Cup.
A remote hearing was held on November 13, 2024, during which all parties acknowledged that the map on Berkane’s shirts did not match the official UN-recognised map of Morocco. CAS ruled that only FAF’s appeal was admissible, as it had exhausted all legal avenues before escalating the case, while USM Alger’s challenge was dismissed.
The panel determined that the map constituted a political statement, violating article 1.03 of CAF’s equipment regulations, Law 4 of the Laws of the Game, and article 2 of CAF’s statutes, which require political neutrality.
As a result, CAF’s decision to approve the RS Berkane shirts was annulled, upholding FAF’s appeal. However, the ruling does not affect the results of the 2023/24 CAF Confederation Cup, meaning RS Berkane’s campaign and any achievements remain intact.
This decision reinforces the principle that football must remain politically neutral and highlights CAF’s responsibility to enforce its own regulations. While the ruling does not resolve the larger geopolitical issue, it sets a precedent for future cases where political imagery finds its way onto the pitch.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1740667681labto1740667681ofdlr1740667681owedi1740667681sni@g1740667681niwe.1740667681yrrah1740667681