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Several Moroccan media outlets have reported that Kheïreddine Zetchi, the former president of the Algerian Football Federation (FAF), has been remanded in custody. They attributed this decision to his refusal to oppose the amendment of the rules of membership of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) during the general assembly held in Rabat in March 2021. an independent state of the UN, thus preventing the Polisario to join the CAF.
In a similar vein, the online newspaper Rue 20 headline: «Algeria Imprisons Former FAF President After His Vote Against Polisario Joining CAF». Like a Moroccan radio station MedRadioit writes that «some observers believe that his imprisonment is linked to his vote against the separatist Polisario Front member of the CAF at a meeting in Rabat».
Did the Polisario really have something to do with Zetchi’s arrest?
However, they forgot to point out that the case is not only for Zetchi. In recent weeks, Algerian judicial and security authorities have launched a campaign targeting several former FAF presidents. This is an extended operation of Mani Pulite (Clean Hands) and comes just three years after Zetchi’s alleged vote in CAF.
Zetchi is also accused of irregularities in the management of «contracts and transactions», including bonuses and financial benefits given to former FAF officials, foreign currency bonuses for local players, and the abuse of public funds by inflating fees and catering charges. He was also accused of “overspending in connection with the African Cup of Nations for local players organized in Algeria, as well as other violations”.
Neither official nor private Algerian media have mentioned any link between Zetchi’s arrest and Morocco or the Polisario. Therefore, establishing a link between this case and Morocco is just speculation, because they did not support their thesis with evidence.
It is also worth mentioning that Zetchi’s successors, Charaf-Eddine Amara (2021 – 2022) and Djahid Zefizef (2022 – 2023), were also charged for “failing to cancel the dubious contracts signed by Kheïreddine Zetchi and the failure to report these transactions. , which remains in force despite their illegal nature».
The Algerian authorities have recently shown a political interest in the sports sector, especially by appointing the current president of the FAF, Walid Sadi, as Minister of Sport.
The recent campaign against three former FAF presidents and other officials is intended to reassure the Algerian public that the sector is under control again. The local press praised Walid Sadi while criticizing his predecessors, who were accused of failing to unite CAF committees.