Tunisia: Zied Derbali dismissed by Sfax Railways Sports after one day in charge

Zied Derbali’s tenure as head coach of Sfax Railways Sports has come to an abrupt end after lasting just a single training session.

The Tunisian coach, who was officially appointed on Tuesday evening and took charge of his first training session on Wednesday, was swiftly dismissed by the club’s board of directors.

The decision, announced only hours after his debut on the training ground, brings an unexpectedly short conclusion to what was meant to be a new chapter for both Derbali and the Ligue 2 side.

In a statement, Sfax Railways Sports confirmed that the dismissal followed revelations that Derbali had been in discussions with another club during the same period he was finalising his move to Sfax.

The board cited this as a breach of professional integrity, prompting them to end his contract immediately.

According to reports, club officials viewed Derbali’s simultaneous talks with a rival team as a sign of divided commitment, an issue they felt could compromise the club’s focus and stability ahead of the new season.

The management, determined to maintain a sense of unity and discipline within the squad, decided that parting ways with the coach was the best course of action.

The decision has surprised many supporters and observers within Tunisian football, as Derbali had been brought in to help rejuvenate a side eager to improve on last season’s mid-table finish.

His appointment was seen as a move to inject fresh ideas and experience into the team, given his background as a respected figure in the domestic football scene.

Instead, his departure leaves Sfax Railways Sports searching once again for a new head coach — a process that had only just concluded.

The club has yet to announce who will oversee the team in the interim, but sources suggest that assistant staff will handle training sessions until a replacement is found.

Derbali, a former player and coach with experience in both domestic and regional football, has not publicly commented on the matter.

It remains unclear which club he was in contact with during the brief period in question.

For Sfax Railways Sports, this latest development represents yet another managerial setback in their ongoing efforts to rebuild.

The club will now need to regroup quickly to ensure that their preparations for the upcoming fixtures remain on track despite the sudden upheaval.