Algerian winger Youssef Belaili at the center of forgery allegations in France

Youssef Belaili, the Algerian international now playing with Esperance Tunis, has found himself caught in controversy after his former French club Ajaccio accused him of forgery and fraud.

In a statement published on its official website, Ajaccio revealed it had written to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, insisting that the second-tier French side was unfairly dragged into a fraudulent scheme involving Belaili.

Ajaccio declared, “Ajaccio was banned from signing new players by FIFA on July 11, 2019, due to a legal dispute between us and Belaili. This decision was made based on a forged document.”

The club further explained, “In April 2023, the Court of Arbitration for Sport ordered Belaili to pay a €380,000 debt to his former club, Al-Ahli Saudi FC, a fine imposed on the player independently of Ajaccio.”

Ajaccio added that Belaili later presented FIFA with a supposed memorandum of understanding linking the French side and Al-Ahli, a paper they insist is fake.

Belaili, 33, had brief spells with Al-Ahli Jeddah and Ajaccio before joining Esperance Tunis in 2024.