Islam Slimani takes CR Belouizdad dispute to Tribunal arbitral du sport

Islam Slimani is set to take his financial dispute with CR Belouizdad to the Tribunal arbitral du sport (TAS), bringing his second spell at the Algerian club to a bitter conclusion.

The Algeria national team’s all-time leading scorer returned to CRB in 2024, 13 years after leaving the club where he first made his name before beginning a career in Europe. However, the reunion lasted only a few months and has now developed into a legal disagreement.

According to El Heddaf, Slimani has formally submitted a case to the Tribunal arbitral du sport over money he says remains unpaid by his former club.

The 36-year-old forward is seeking part of his salary, along with other sums he believes he was owed during his time with CR Belouizdad. Slimani has been without a club since the abrupt termination of his contract with Cluj during the middle of last season.

A hearing has been scheduled for 15 October, when Slimani and CR Belouizdad are expected to put forward their respective arguments. The sporting jurisdiction will then decide the outcome of the case.

The dispute follows several months of disagreement over outstanding payments. Slimani maintains that elements of his contractual rights have not been settled, while the CRB leadership is expected to defend its position during the proceedings.

The legal battle is an unexpected ending to a relationship that played a major part in Slimani’s career. He emerged as a striker at the Algiers-based club between 2009 and 2013 before moving to Sporting Portugal.

That transfer marked the beginning of a long career in European football, during which Slimani also represented Leicester, Monaco, Lyon and Anderlecht.

More than a decade after his first departure, Slimani returned to CR Belouizdad for the 2024-2025 season. His second spell was brief, producing 12 appearances and three goals before he left the club again.

His return had been viewed as a symbolic homecoming for one of the most important players to come through CRB. Instead, the former Chabab forward now finds himself facing the club before the TAS.