February 27 – The Courtroom of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dominated in favour of the Algerian Soccer Federation (FAF) in its dispute with the Confederation of African Soccer (CAF), the Moroccan Soccer Federation (FRMF), and Moroccan membership RS Berkane over the crew’s controversial shirts.
The ruling overturns CAF’s earlier approval of the package, which displayed a map of Morocco that included the contested territory of Western Sahara.
The case, which has sparked political debate past the soccer pitch, centred on whether or not the map constituted a political message. FAF, together with USM Alger, argued that the design violated CAF laws, FIFA guidelines, and the Legal guidelines of the Sport, all of which prohibit political symbols on soccer kits.
The dispute reached CAS after CAF’s Appeals Jury dominated in April 2024 that RS Berkane’s shirts have been compliant, permitting the membership to put on them all through the 2023/24 CAF Confederation Cup.
A distant listening to was held on November 13, 2024, throughout which all events acknowledged that the map on Berkane’s shirts didn’t match the official UN-recognised map of Morocco. CAS dominated that solely FAF’s attraction was admissible, because it had exhausted all authorized avenues earlier than escalating the case, whereas USM Alger’s problem was dismissed.
The panel decided that the map constituted a political assertion, violating article 1.03 of CAF’s tools laws, Regulation 4 of the Legal guidelines of the Sport, and article 2 of CAF’s statutes, which require political neutrality.
In consequence, CAF’s resolution to approve the RS Berkane shirts was annulled, upholding FAF’s attraction. Nevertheless, the ruling doesn’t have an effect on the outcomes of the 2023/24 CAF Confederation Cup, which means RS Berkane’s marketing campaign and any achievements stay intact.
This resolution reinforces the precept that soccer should stay politically impartial and highlights CAF’s duty to implement its personal laws. Whereas the ruling doesn’t resolve the bigger geopolitical problem, it units a precedent for future circumstances the place political imagery finds its manner onto the pitch.
Contact the author of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1740656198labto1740656198ofdlr1740656198owedi1740656198sni@g1740656198niwe.1740656198yrrah1740656198
The post CAS backs Algerian FA in Western Sahara shirt controversy first appeared on Foot & Soccer.
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Author : footsoccer
Publish date : 2025-02-27 11:39:48
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