CR Belouizdad will be forced to play the upcoming derby against fierce rivals MC Alger behind closed doors, following heavy disciplinary sanctions handed down by the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP).
The decision, announced ahead of Matchday 25 of the Ligue 1 Mobilis season, comes after serious crowd disturbances during CRB’s recent fixture against JS Kabylie at the Hocine Aït-Ahmed Stadium in Tizi-Ouzou.
Repeated use of smoke bombs and the throwing of projectiles—some causing material and physical damage—prompted the LFP’s Disciplinary Committee to impose the sanction, marking the third such incident involving CRB this season.
Because of the club’s previous infractions, a suspended sentence from an Algerian Cup tie earlier in April was automatically activated.
As a result, the high-stakes derby—a pivotal match in the race for the league title—will now be played in an empty stadium, depriving both teams of the passionate support that typically defines this historic rivalry.
The punishment doesn’t end there. CRB striker Aymen Mahious has been suspended for two matches—one of which is conditional—following a red card for violent conduct during the match against JSK.
In addition, players Chouaib Keddad, Abderrahmane Meziane, and goalkeeper Alexis Guendouz Boussouf have each been fined 100,000 Algerian dinars for protesting refereeing decisions.
Disciplinary measures have not been limited to CR Belouizdad alone.
JS Kabylie and MC Oran were also penalised for crowd trouble involving pyrotechnics, with fines reaching up to 600,000 dinars. Warnings were issued to USM Alger, JS Saoura, and ES Mostaganem for similar misconduct during recent fixtures.
These sanctions underscore the LFP’s uncompromising stance on stadium safety and match integrity, as league authorities aim to crack down on repeated offences that jeopardise both players and spectators.
For CR Belouizdad, the timing of the ruling could not be more damaging.
Locked in a tight title race and facing one of the season’s most crucial encounters, the team will have to navigate the emotionally charged derby without the energy of its home crowd.
The disciplinary clampdown serves as a sharp reminder that off-pitch conduct is just as vital to a club’s fortunes as its performances on the field.
