Lotfi Bekouassa, the internationally recognised Algerian referee, returned to officiating duties last weekend in a Ligue 2 fixture, months after being abruptly suspended by the Algerian Football Federation (FAF)—a decision that has cast a long shadow over his career and future prospects.
Bekouassa, 38, was appointed to oversee the Centre-West group clash between SKAF Khemis Miliana and SC Mécheria, a match which ended in a resounding 4-0 victory for the hosts.
His reappearance was warmly welcomed by fellow referees and segments of the Algerian football public, many of whom viewed his suspension as both premature and unjust.
The controversy dates back to December 2024, when Bekouassa and his assistant Adel Abane were sidelined by the FAF following their officiating in a Ligue 1 Mobilis fixture between CS Constantine and NC Magra.
During that match, the pair initially allowed a goal that was later deemed to have come from an offside position. Without the assistance of VAR, the referees reversed their decision before the restart of play—an action entirely permitted under FIFA laws.
Despite this, the FAF’s Emergency Committee, chaired by president Walid Sadi, moved swiftly to suspend both officials even before their scheduled hearing before the Federal Arbitration Commission (CFA), led by Mehdi Abid Charef.
The speed and severity of the punishment raised eyebrows, particularly among refereeing circles who felt the referees acted within the bounds of their authority.
What compounded the situation was the FAF’s rapid communication with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), informing them of Bekouassa’s suspension within hours of the decision.
The letter ultimately led to his removal from the list of officials selected for the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN), jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda—a tournament for which Bekouassa had already been earmarked.
Despite retaining his international status, the consequences of that letter have been damaging. Refereeing experts believe Bekouassa’s chances of officiating in any major continental competition through 2025 and even 2026 are now extremely slim.
While he and Abane eventually appeared before the CFA and received a reduced one-month domestic suspension, the damage on the continental stage has proven irreversible.
CAF has also refused to accept alternative referees proposed by the FAF to replace Bekouassa and Abane, leaving Algeria without representation in a key tournament and raising questions about the federation’s internal decision-making.
The handling of the case has sparked criticism from within Algeria’s refereeing community. Many have contrasted the FAF’s current approach with past administrations that actively defended referees facing disciplinary action.
Former federation president Kheireddine Zetchi and the late Belaïd Lacarne were both cited as figures who stood firmly behind their officials in turbulent moments.
Notably, Charef himself had previously benefitted from institutional support following his own suspension after the 2022 CAF Champions League final between Al Ahly and ES Tunis.
Bekouassa’s future now hangs in the balance. While he has returned to domestic football, the possibility of a full rehabilitation on the continental scene appears remote without a significant shift in policy or unprecedented intervention from CAF.
His case serves as a stark example of how administrative decisions, made in haste and under pressure, can carry long-lasting consequences for individuals and national representation alike.
