Algeria Football – A player from the Algerian national team refused to play, attracting the anger of his coach!
The affair of Algerian defender Rafik Belghali, currently at KV Malines in Belgium, continues to generate ink in the Belgian championship. After refusing to play in the match against the Saint-Trond club last Friday, as part of the 14th day of the “Pro League”, the situation created a lively controversy. Mechelen lost this match 2-1, and the absence of Belghali fueled the debates.
Rafik Belghali, aged 22, is a promising right defender, international with the Algeria U23 team. After joining KV Mechelen in 2023 from Lommel, he quickly gained influence, making 20 appearances for his club and contributing three goals and two assists. However, the Algerian had a long absence the previous season due to a serious knee injury, a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, which occurred in September 2023.
Belghali's refusal to participate in the match against Sint-Truiden was motivated by fear of playing on an artificial turf, which was the site of his injury last year. This decision was strongly criticized by Belgian analysts. The Belgian press expressed their incomprehension, emphasizing that Belghali had chosen not to play on this surface due to his past trauma, but that he would have to overcome this fear to continue playing at a high level.
Mechelen coach Bansnik Hasi expressed his dissatisfaction, saying the player's attitude lacked professionalism. “It’s a betrayal,” he said, deploring that Belghali informed the club of his decision unilaterally, without first discussing with him.
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