The Algerian Football Federation (FAF) has ordered a mandatory reduction of spectator capacity across national stadiums by at least 25%, following a federal office meeting led by President Walid Sadi on Monday, June 30.
The decision comes in the wake of a tragic incident earlier this month, where overcrowding during a domestic league match at the July 5 Stadium between MC Alger and NC Magra reportedly saw 80,000 fans enter a venue built to hold 64,000.
The capacity cut is part of broader efforts to enhance safety and improve access conditions for supporters attending domestic fixtures.
“The Federal Bureau decided to reduce the capacity of stadiums open to the public by at least 25% of their capacity, in order to facilitate access for supporters in better conditions,” read an official statement issued by the FAF.
The ruling marks one of the most significant outcomes of the ordinary federal office session held at the FAF headquarters in Dely Brahim, even as other agenda items focused largely on preparations for upcoming international fixtures.
Madjid Bougherra’s Algeria A’ team will begin its CHAN 2025 training camp on July 20.
During the camp, the squad is scheduled to play two friendly matches—one against hosts Uganda and another against the Democratic Republic of Congo—as they fine-tune preparations for the continental tournament.
Meanwhile, confirmation was also given for the Algerian national team’s next 2026 World Cup qualifier.
The senior team is set to face Botswana at the Hocine Aït Ahmed Stadium in Tizi Ouzou on September 5, with kick-off scheduled for 17:00 local time.
While the FAF’s meeting offered no sweeping reforms, the stadium decision has drawn particular attention given the recurring safety concerns in Algerian football.
The move appears to acknowledge the failures of recent matchday logistics and represents a shift toward more responsible crowd management practices.
Critics, however, argue that capacity reduction alone is not a comprehensive solution and have called for more structural investments in stadium security infrastructure, ticketing systems, and matchday organisation.
The FAF’s announcement suggests the federation is taking initial steps toward addressing fan safety more proactively, though stakeholders across Algerian football will be watching closely to see how effectively these new measures are implemented in practice.
