Accused Of Unfair Referees, Algeria Asks Match Against Cameroon In 2022 World Cup Qualification Play-off To Be Repeated

Photo: Instagram.com/@algerian_team_info

JAKARTA - The Algerian Football Federation (FAF) has appealed to the International Football Federation (FIFA) to request a rematch against Cameroon in the 2022 World Cup Qualification playoffs.

As quoted from Eurosports, this was done by the FAF because they felt they were not being treated fairly by the match officials. Especially the referee Bakary Gassama from Gambia. The request was submitted by the FAF to FIFA through an official statement.

"The FAF is determined to use all legally permissible means to obtain (due) rights and to replay matches under conditions that ensure the fairness and impartiality of the match officials," the FAF said in a statement, Saturday 2 April.

"The FAF also requests the opening of an investigation by FIFA bodies to fully explain the setting of the Algeria-Cameroon match," the statement continued.

Algeria failed to reach the 2022 World Cup finals after losing 1-2 in the second leg against Cameroon at the Mustapha Tchaker Stadium on Tuesday, 29 March. Algeria's defeat then saw Cameroon qualify for the 2022 World Cup, because despite losing 0-1 in the first leg, Cameroon were ahead on away goals.

After Algeria ran aground in the playoffs, the match was controversial because of the leadership of referee Gassama. In that match Gassama annulled Islam Slimani's two goals after using VAR. Slimani was ruled for offside and handball before the goal occurred.

From the same source, it was later discovered that Gassama was silent when the incident happened to Rachid Ghezzal and Youcef Belaili in the forbidden box and also when the ball hit the arm of a Cameroonian player.

Despite the controversy in that match, Cameroon still qualified for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. However, after the match ended, Djamel Belmadi who is the governor of Algeria congratulated Cameroon but he did not consider the Indomitable Lions a team that deserved to qualify.

"Congratulations to Cameroon, but I don't think it's the most deserving team to qualify," said Djamel Belmadi.