Zetchi trial finally opens in Algeria after six adjournments

After six postponements and almost two years in provisional detention, former Federation Algerienne de Football (FAF) president Kheireddine Zetchi has finally appeared in court over allegations relating to the federation’s management.

The trial of Zetchi and several former FAF officials began on Tuesday, 13 October, before the economic and financial criminal division of the Sidi M’hamed court in Algiers. Former FAF presidents Charaf-Eddine Amara and Djahid Zefizef, who are also being prosecuted, were present.

Proceedings started at about 10:30 and were suspended at 17:00. The hearing is due to resume on Wednesday morning.

The case stems from an investigation opened in 2024 into several former FAF leaders, including Zetchi, Amara and Zefizef.

Before the court began examining the substance of the allegations, defence lawyers challenged an assessment carried out by the General Inspectorate of Finance. They asked for it to be declared invalid, arguing that procedural requirements may not have been followed and that several parties had neither been summoned nor interviewed.

The defence also disputed the decision to allow the Ministry of Youth and Sports to join the proceedings as a civil party. Lawyers argued that FAF is an association which does not receive funding from the ministry. The judge ruled that both objections should be considered alongside the main case.

Allegations under examination

The opening testimony focused on contracts involving accommodation, the logistics of competitions staged in Algeria, including CHAN 2023 and CAN U17, and some bonuses paid after Algeria’s victories in the Africa Cup of Nations and the Arab Cup.

The defendants face allegations of abuse of office, the misappropriation of public funds and awarding contracts in breach of regulations in order to provide unjustified benefits. The claims have yet to be established in court, and all those accused are presumed innocent.

None of the defendants who are being held in custody was questioned during the first day of proceedings. Zetchi will therefore have to wait before giving his account of the case.

The former FAF president has been held in provisional detention since 27 November 2024.

The previous adjournments were linked to several issues, including defence requests to review the substantial case file, the absence of some parties, a hearing coinciding with Mawlid, the religious festival, and the unavailability of a lawyer who was mourning a death.

Zetchi remains closely associated with Algeria’s continental triumph in 2019, achieved during his presidency after he appointed Djamel Belmadi as manager of the national team. That sporting record forms part of his legacy, but it has no bearing on the court’s assessment of the allegations concerning his administration of the FAF.

After almost two years in provisional detention and six postponements, the opening of the trial has allowed the accusations and the defence’s objections to be examined. However, much of the evidence and the defendants’ responses still remain to be heard.