Algeria’s head coach, Djamel Belmadi, expressed his reservations about the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) decisions during their recent draw against Burkina Faso (2-2) at the AFCON 2023 tournament. The Algerian Football Federation (FAF) officially filed a protest, citing concerns over VAR malfunctions and selective usage during pivotal moments of the game.
Addressing the media on Monday ahead of Algeria’s upcoming match against Mauritania, Belmadi acknowledged the need to focus on the game but highlighted situations that could impact match outcomes, necessitating a discussion.
The FAF, including its president Walid Sadi, had criticized the malfunction of VAR during the Burkina Faso match, emphasizing that contentious situations were not adequately addressed.
The coach revealed his discontent, stating, “Our three goals conceded (in this AFCON) were checked by VAR, and we cannot blame the referee for anything.”
While Belmadi acknowledged the validity of Burkina Faso’s VAR-confirmed goal, he expressed concern about situations in favor of Algeria that, in his opinion, warranted VAR scrutiny.
“It bothers and worries me,” Belmadi asserted, referring to specific instances that, in his view, should have been subject to VAR review.
He cited Mandi’s half-heel putting the opponent into play, which validated Burkina Faso’s goal, and an alleged incident involving Bounedjah in the penalty area.
With the controversy surrounding VAR decisions against Burkina Faso, Belmadi urged for a fair and incident-free match in Algeria’s crucial encounter against Mauritania on Tuesday at 8 p.m. GMT.
The Fennecs, vying for qualification, require at least a point to advance in the tournament.
The coach’s sentiments underscore the importance of a level playing field and a commitment to fair refereeing practices in high-stakes matches.
As Algeria seeks to secure its position in the competition, the concerns raised by Belmadi highlight the ongoing scrutiny and debates surrounding VAR implementation in top-tier football tournaments.
#Belmadi : ” La VAR aurait dû être utiliser sur trois situations en notre faveur, quand on appelle la VAR, à juste titre, pour quelques millimètres sur le but de premier but du Burkina et on fait rien sur une situation où le joueur est ceinturé dans la surface, ça m’inquiète ” pic.twitter.com/Gel07QDk7J
— FARID BOUSSALEM (@faridmca1921) January 22, 2024
