
FIFA Suspends Algeria's Youcef Belaili for One Year Over Forgery Allegations
News reports indicate that Algerian international player Youcef Belaili faces a one-year suspension from FIFA on charges of forgery.
Algerian sources confirmed that FIFA informed Belaili of the sanction yesterday, Thursday, exacerbating the crisis for the player who missed the Africa Cup of Nations due to a serious knee injury, and whose readiness for the 2026 World Cup is now in doubt.
Belaili's one-year suspension stems from a complaint filed by his former French club, Ajaccio, for whom he played in the 2022-2023 season. The complaint alleges that he forged documents to benefit from an amount of 380,000 euros.
The 33-year-old is currently under contract with Tunisia's Espérance Sportive de Tunis until June 30, 2026. He has previously faced several issues in his career, including a two-year suspension for cocaine use.