Espérance Sportive de Tunis has voiced strong disapproval following the National Professional Football League’s (LNFP) refusal to allow club representatives to attend a key hearing concerning the ongoing case involving Algerian forward Youcef Belaili.
The Tunisian giants issued a statement on Friday condemning what they described as an unjustified exclusion from the proceedings.
The club expressed frustration that despite the hearing being of significant importance to the resolution of the matter, the LNFP rejected their formal request to be present.
According to the LNFP, their decision was based on the premise that the case in question had already been addressed in earlier stages.
The league stated that the matter no longer warranted the presence of additional parties during its final phase, implying that the participation of Espérance officials was unnecessary.
Espérance, however, strongly contested this reasoning. In their view, the upcoming deliberation session — scheduled for today — represents a decisive moment in the resolution of the Belaili dispute.
The club argued that being present at this juncture is not only logical but essential, particularly given the direct impact the case could have on their interests.
In its official communication, the Tunis-based club emphasized its right to representation, noting that transparency and fairness are fundamental to the disciplinary process.
Espérance also pointed out that their exclusion raises serious concerns over the impartiality of the ongoing procedures.
The case involving Youcef Belaili, a former Espérance player and current figure in African football, has generated considerable media attention in recent weeks.
Although specific details of the dispute have not been made public by either party, the club’s latest reaction underscores the weight the matter holds within Tunisian football circles.
Espérance insisted that they are not seeking to interfere in the league’s decision-making process but merely to ensure that all sides are fairly heard and considered before a final ruling is issued. “It is not a question of intervention but of legitimate presence,” the club noted.
As of now, it remains unclear whether Espérance’s protests will have any effect on the outcome of the case or on future disciplinary procedures.
The LNFP has not responded further to the club’s complaints, and no alternative arrangements appear to have been offered.
Espérance, one of Tunisia’s most decorated football institutions, concluded its statement by calling on the relevant authorities to reconsider the principles guiding such hearings.
The club warned that failure to do so could undermine trust in the league’s handling of disciplinary matters and set a damaging precedent.
The outcome of today’s deliberation will likely mark a crucial step in the resolution of the Belaili case, but for Espérance, the controversy surrounding their denied access may linger well beyond the final verdict.
