A soccer jersey carrying a national map including disputed Western Sahara has become a hot commodity in Morocco after a diplomatic dispute with Algeria.
Retailers said RS Berkane jerseys have been flying off the shelves after a Confederation of African Football (CAF) Cup match against Algerian club USM Alger was canceled last month over the jerseys.
“We are overwhelmed by the influx of messages and requests,” said Brahim Rabii, representative of the official RS Berkane jersey distributor.
Photo: AFP
Algeria broke off diplomatic relations with Morocco in 2021, partly over the issue of Western Sahara.
The former Spanish colony is largely controlled by Morocco, but claimed by the Algeria-backed Polisario Front, which seeks the territory’s independence.
When RS Berkane landed in Algiers last month to take on USM Alger in the first leg of the CAF Cup semi-finals, Algerian customs confiscated the jerseys because they feature the map.
The Moroccan club refused to take the field without the jerseys and so the match was canceled.
On Sunday night, the return game at Berkane — a province bordering Algeria — was also canceled after USM Alger withdrew, also over the jerseys, giving the Moroccan side direct qualification for the Cup final against Egyptian giants Zamalek.
“Moroccans show an overwhelming passion for the Berkane team jerseys,” Rabii said.
“Their fervor does not tolerate any attack on the homeland or national territory,” he added, referring to Western Sahara, which the UN considers as a “non-autonomous territory.”
The demand has “significantly increased in all [Moroccan] cities and even abroad,” said Soufiane al-Korchi, another representative of the jersey distributor.
After Algerian customs confiscated the jerseys in Algiers on April 19, Algerian Football Federation president Walid Sadi said the Moroccan team would be given “high-quality jerseys” instead — ones without the map.
RS Berkane turned down the offer, leading to the cancelation of the first game.
This had “an unexpected effect,” said Toufiq Jouit, a RS Berkane supporter interviewed at a club store, where the jerseys are sold for 200 dirhams (US$19.80).
“The incident pushed the jersey to the forefront of the international scene, arousing high interest among football fans,” Jouit said.
The “map has been part of the official design for three years,” al-Korchi said.
“It’s not a novelty, but rather an identity element that has accompanied the club for several years,” he said.
The CAF awarded RS Berkane a 3-0 victory for both legs of the semi-final.
The Algerian Football Federation then lodged an appeal against CAF’s decision with international sport’s top court, the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland.
It argued that the Cairo-based body had made a mistake by “validating the request of the Moroccan club, RS Berkane, to wear a shirt with a political message.”
RS Berkane coach Mouine Chaabani regretted the cancelation of the two games.
“It’s been almost 20 days since we played any matches,” he said. “We will compensate with training, although nothing replaces competition.”
Twelve days after winning her second Grand Slam title at the French Open, Coco Gauff fell at the first hurdle on grass in Berlin on Thursday as beaten Paris finalist Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the quarter-finals. Recipient of a first round bye, American Gauff lost 6-3, 6-3 to Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu as world number one Sabalenka beat Rebeka Masarova 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) in her second round tie. Winner of 10 main tour titles, including the US Open in 2023 and the WTA Finals last year, Gauff has yet to lift a trophy in a grass-court tournament. “After I won the first
Aaron Civale got a little wild in the right-hander’s first start for the Chicago White Sox two days after he was traded by the Milwaukee Brewers. Civale on Sunday walked four of the first seven hitters he faced in a 2-1 loss to the Texas Rangers. The 30-year-old finished with four walks, one off his career high, while allowing six hits and two runs in five innings. He threw 65 strikes and 39 balls. Chicago trailed 2-1 when he was replaced by Dan Altavilla to start the sixth. “Not the cleanest,” Civale said. “It’s been a whirlwind of a week. First couple
Sergio Ramos on Tuesday outfoxed two Inter players and artfully headed home the first goal for Monterrey at the FIFA Club World Cup. The 39-year-old Ramos slipped through the penalty area for the score just as he did for so many years in the shirts of Real Madrid and Spain’s national team, with whom he combined smarts, timing and physicality. Ramos’ clever goal and his overall defensive play at the Rose Bowl were major factors in Monterrey’s impressive 1-1 draw against the UEFA Champions League finalists in the clubs’ first match of the tournament. “There is always a joy to contribute to the
DOMINANT JUVENTUS: Randal Kolo Muani and Francisco Conceicao both scored braces as Juventus made a statement in their opener with a big win over Al-Ain Phil Foden on Wednesday scored two minutes into the match and later had an assist to lead Premier League powerhouse Manchester City past Moroccan club Wydad AC 2-0 at the FIFA Club World Cup. City broke Wydad’s five-man defensive line early when Foden scored on a deflected cross by goalkeeper El Mehdi Benabid. Jeremy Doku doubled City’s lead in the 42nd minute off a corner-kick from Foden. Shortly afterward, an animal-rights advocate ran onto the field to protest Morocco’s treatment of stray dogs and cats. The man was tackled by security workers and escorted out of Lincoln Financial Field, which was just over
RSS