US Souf’s licensing dispute revives memories of RC Kouba’s 2008 saga
The ongoing controversy involving US Souf has reignited discussions reminiscent of the infamous 2008 dispute between RC Kouba and the Algerian Football Federation (FAF). Freshly promoted to Algeria’s Ligue 1 after the 2022/2023 season, US Souf aimed to make an impact in the top tier, following in the footsteps of other southern clubs like JS Saoura and US Biskra. However, their ambitions were quickly dashed when the Professional Football League (LFP) refused to issue licenses for their new signings, forcing the club to compete with a weakened squad.
The situation deteriorated further with the departure of Abdelkrim Medaouar as president of the LFP in October 2023, following Walid Sadi’s election as head of the FAF.
Despite a change in leadership, US Souf remained without its key players throughout the first half of the season, leading to poor performances and a last-place finish that jeopardized their position in Ligue 1.
Believing their rights were violated, US Souf sought justice through the Algerian Court of Arbitration for Sport (TASL) but was unsuccessful, as the court twice ruled in favor of the LFP. Refusing to back down, the club escalated the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, which took up the case.
After months of waiting and enduring the relegation of their senior team to Ligue 2, US Souf finally received word from the CAS.
The court requested explanations from the FAF regarding the LFP’s refusal to issue licenses, suggesting that the decision may have been unjustified.
The FAF is now under pressure to provide a satisfactory response to the CAS, especially with the Ligue 1 Mobilis championship set to kick off on the 19th, 20th, and 21st of this month.
The stakes are high, as a ruling in favor of US Souf could lead to their reinstatement in Ligue 1, potentially expanding the league to 17 clubs and disrupting the entire season’s schedule.
In a related development, Youcef Sakhri, president of US Souf, recently accused the FAF of dragging its feet in resolving the licensing issue.
He claimed that despite promises from FAF President Walid Sadi to address the problem, the organization’s Secretary General, Nadir Bouzenad, refused to act, citing unresolved financial disputes and the closure of the FAF CONNECT system, which prevented the issuance of licenses.
This case has drawn parallels to the 2008 saga involving RC Kouba, where the club challenged the FAF over a similar licensing dispute.
RC Kouba’s struggle culminated in a victory at the CAS in Lausanne, forcing the federation to reinstate the club in Ligue 1 and compensate them for their legal costs.
That case tarnished the FAF’s reputation, and many fear the US Souf affair could have a similar outcome if not resolved promptly.
As the FAF faces mounting pressure, the possibility of a 17-club Ligue 1 looms large, threatening to disrupt the season and raise questions about the federation’s governance once again.
