Nicolas Anelka Barred from Playing in Algeria Due to League Regulations
Any hopes of seeing Nicolas Anelka in the Algerian championship have been dashed. Despite the interest shown by NA Hussein Dey—currently 14th in the league—Algerian football regulations have made the move impossible.
According to Mahfoud Kerbadj, president of the Algerian Football League, strict rules govern the eligibility of foreign players:
“The laws are clear: only foreign players under the age of 27 and who are current internationals with their national teams are allowed to sign for our clubs.”
This effectively disqualifies Anelka, who is 35 and has not been part of the French national team for several years. The league has no plans to make exceptions:
“We have no intention of opening a breach in this register,” Kerbadj emphasized.
Anelka, who most recently played for Mumbai City FC in the Indian Super League, is now out of contract and exploring new opportunities. However, a move to Algeria is now off the table.
