
USM Alger's Pattern of Non-Football Incidents Against Moroccan Teams Continues, From 2024 Berkane Shirt Crisis to Safi Chaos
Algerian club USM Alger has come under scrutiny following its repeated involvement in non-sporting incidents during continental clashes against Moroccan clubs.
In the 2024 CAF Confederation Cup, USM Alger officials withdrew from their match against RS Berkane. This withdrawal was prompted by RS Berkane's jersey, which featured the full map of the Kingdom of Morocco. The incident led to sanctions against the Algerian club, sparking widespread controversy, and USM Alger was ultimately deemed to have forfeited the match.
More recently, USM Alger fans caused chaos and unrest at Al-Massira Stadium in Safi, ahead of a crucial semi-final match against Olympic Safi in the same competition. These events created a tense atmosphere around the game, leading to a delay of one hour and twenty minutes from its original kick-off time.
These actions place the Algerian club under scrutiny, as on two prominent occasions, they have created problems, seemingly attempting to directly influence the outcome of their crucial matches against Moroccan clubs.