Moroccan club RS Berkane have declared victory following the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling on their controversial CAF Confederation Cup semi-final against USM Alger, despite the decision favoring the Algerian side.
The dispute centered around Berkane’s use of a map of Morocco on their jerseys, which included the Western Sahara region—a highly sensitive political issue between Morocco and Algeria.
USM Alger lodged a formal complaint, arguing that the map violated CAF and FIFA statutes, which prohibit political symbols in football.
CAS ultimately ruled in favour of the Algerian club, agreeing that Berkane’s actions breached the regulations.
However, Berkane has framed the verdict as a triumph, emphasizing that their victory in the competition remains intact and that no sanctions were imposed on the club.
“The victory of Club Berkane has been confirmed without any sanction being pronounced against us, a piece of news that has delighted the supporters of Berkane,” the club stated in a press release.
USMA had sought the annulment of the results of both the first and second-leg matches, arguing that Berkane’s use of the map unfairly influenced the competition. While CAS ruled that Berkane’s actions were indeed a violation, it did not overturn the match results or impose further penalties.
Berkane’s statement positioned the ruling as a rejection of USMA’s broader attempt to disqualify them from the competition.
“The decision stipulates the rejection of the Algerian club’s request to cancel the results of the matches and to sanction Renaissance de Berkane,” the club asserted.
The verdict adds fuel to the already tense football rivalry between Morocco and Algeria, with political tensions spilling onto the pitch. While USM Alger may have secured a legal victory, Berkane’s response suggests they see no reason to consider the matter a loss.
