LFP 2026/27 season: Away supporters set to remain barred as Algerian clubs prepare for new campaign

The Professional Football League (LFP) has begun preparations for the 2026-27 Algerian football season, but uncertainty over the return of away supporters remains after officials indicated the issue has yet to be resolved, raising the prospect of a second successive campaign without travelling fans.

Representatives from Ligue 1 clubs met officials from the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) and the LFP on Monday, 3 August 2026, to discuss organisational and regulatory matters ahead of the new season.

While a wide range of topics was covered during the meeting, the question of supporters attending away matches was left unresolved.

The gathering, chaired by LFP president Mohamed Amine Mesloug, focused on preparations for the upcoming campaign and reviewed several aspects of the competition, including the championship regulations, amendments to the disciplinary code, new interpretations of the Laws of the Game and the sanction framework that will govern the season.

Club officials also received information relating to the league fixture schedule following the completion of the competition calendar draw.

Key issues discussed before the new season

Beyond regulations, discussions extended to several operational matters affecting clubs across the country.

Representatives exchanged views on refereeing standards, stadium certification requirements and the financial and human resources needed to organise the season.

Another major topic centred on the scheduling challenges created by Algerian clubs competing in CAF inter-club competitions.

In recent seasons, domestic fixtures have frequently been postponed to accommodate continental commitments, creating severe fixture congestion later in the campaign.

League officials reiterated their intention to improve scheduling during the 2026-27 season by ensuring league fixtures are played either before or after continental matches involving Algerian clubs.

The objective, according to the meeting, is to prevent long backlogs of postponed games from accumulating during the campaign.

Fixture congestion remains a concern

The scheduling issue has become a recurring challenge for Algerian football.

Although league officials once again promised stricter enforcement of the fixture calendar, similar assurances were made in previous seasons without being fully implemented.

Last season, clubs including CR Belouizdad and USM Alger were required to play several postponed matches within a very short period.

At times, teams reportedly faced schedules that required multiple matches in only a few days, with some fixtures separated by as little as 48 hours.

Such congestion placed additional physical demands on players while creating logistical challenges for clubs balancing domestic and continental commitments.

For many clubs, avoiding a repeat of those scheduling problems remains one of the priorities heading into the new campaign.

Away supporters remain in limbo

Despite extensive discussions on competition matters, one of the most closely watched issues was left unresolved.

The subject of travelling supporters was not formally addressed during the meeting.

According to several club presidents, the LFP president informed attendees that the matter had been postponed because the FAF’s Federal Bureau had not yet examined the issue or reached a final decision.

As a result, clubs are still waiting for official confirmation on whether supporters will be permitted to attend away fixtures this season.

Current indications suggest that Algerian football could continue without travelling supporters for a second consecutive campaign.

The continued absence of away fans would affect several aspects of the domestic game.

Many clubs believe travelling supporters contribute significantly to matchday atmosphere, competitive balance and football-related economic activity.

Without a final ruling, uncertainty remains ahead of the league’s return.

Further discussions expected

The meeting concluded with an indication that additional discussions could take place before the start of the season.

The LFP president and the league’s general secretary announced that another meeting may be organised to address outstanding issues.

Those discussions are expected to include the regulations governing supporter movement as well as stadium capacity thresholds, which officials acknowledged are not consistently respected at every venue.

For now, clubs continue their preparations while awaiting further clarification on one of the most debated issues ahead of the 2026-27 Ligue 1 season.