Football has always been more than just a sport in which eleven people – men and women – chase a ball. The passion for the game brings thousands of people to stadiums every week. Fans who identify and see themselves in the club, region or country that represents them.
Therefore, the simple phenomena observed in football matches may not be so simple.
On Sunday, the first match of the semi-finals of the African Confederations Cup (the second most important continental competition on this continent) did not take place. All because of a dispute with a card on the T-shirt of one of the teams.
The Moroccans from the Berkane Renaissance, who faced the Algerians from the USM Alger, are armed with a map of Morocco, which contains Western Sahara, a region with a history of tension between the two neighboring countries.
Algeria views the map as a provocation, and the orange equipment with a red design in the center was confiscated by authorities as soon as the Berkan landed in the Algerian capital.
The Moroccan club have already used the kit throughout the season, and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has already asserted its right to use it in Algeria.
Both teams were in the stadium, but only the home team entered the field. Berkane’s athletes remained in the locker room. CAF said it would “report the events to the competent authorities.” The return match is scheduled for Sunday, April 28.
The Moroccans reclaimed the disputed territory in 1957 while it was still under Spanish control and annexed it in 1975.
It is the region with the largest area and the largest number of inhabitants on the UN list of non-autonomous territories. It has been the subject of much dispute between Moroccans and Sahrawis, an indigenous people led by the Algerian-backed Polisario Front.
The clashes, which lasted more than 16 years, ended with a UN call for a ceasefire.
Author: morning Post
Source: CM Jornal
I’m Dave Martin, and I’m an experienced journalist working in the news industry. As a part of my work, I write for 24 News Reporters, covering mostly sports-related topics. With more than 5 years of experience as a journalist, I have written numerous articles on various topics to provide accurate information to readers.