CAF Fines Algerian $100,000, Suspends Players Over Misconduct
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has fined the Algerian Football Federation $100,000 for the “inappropriate behaviour” of its national team’s players and officials after the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarter-final match against Nigeria.
CAF announced the sanction in a statement on Wednesday. Nigeria defeated Algeria 2-0 at the Grand Stade de Marrakech in the quarter-final of the 2025 AFCON on December 10. After the match, the Algerian players and officials singled out Issa Sy, the Senegalese referee, and his team as the culprits behind the underwhelming performance.
The Algerians confronted the match officials, and their aggression escalated into a massive on-field brawl that included a couple of Nigerian players.
The referees had to be escorted off the pitch by a team of officials to protect them from the Algerian squad’s anger. The drama continued and spilt into the dugout, where some Algerian players were seen pushing and punching their way toward what seemed like the match officials. In its ruling on the matter, the CAF disciplinary committee fined Algeria $25,000 for the actions of the country’s players and officials at the end of the match, which brought discredit upon the match.
The Algerian FA was handed an additional $15,000 fine for offences including players receiving five yellow cards during the match, the use of smoke bombs by its supporters, and the throwing of objects by its supporters. The federation also received an additional $60,000 fine for offensive and abusive gestures — displaying banknotes — committed by its supporters against the match referees and for failing to comply with security measures due to behaviour that attempted to force the security barriers.
CAF also suspended Desert Foxes’ Rafik Belghali and Luca Zidane for four and two games respectively over their role in the post-match scuffle.
The Algerian FA said it has initiated an appeal process to overturn the sanctions.
