Football, a field meant to unite across borders, has once again become the stage for an ideological conflict. This time, the epicenter is located in Casablanca, where Algerian winger Yousri Bouzok of Raja reportedly refused to play against AS FAR in a historic CAF Champions League match. The reason? The comprehensive map of Morocco emblazoned on the Greens’ jersey for this competition, which represents the Kingdom within its legitimate borders, including its Sahara.
However, all day long, rumors regarding Bouzok’s presence or absence for the showdown between Raja Casablanca and AS FAR in the CAF Champions League have ignited debates. Accused of refusing to play due to the comprehensive map of Morocco on Raja’s jersey, the Algerian forward eventually broke his silence through the club’s president, Adil Hala.
A categorical denial and clarification
In a statement to Radio Mars, Adil Hala aimed to put an end to the speculations. He confirmed that a meeting was held with Bouzok in the morning, during which the player firmly denied the accusations made against him. “I am a professional player, and I respect all decisions of the club,” the Algerian winger reportedly stated, thus refuting any link between his potential absence and the political questions surrounding the jersey.
Adil Hala also announced a surprising decision: for the match against AS FAR, the team will not wear the jersey displaying the comprehensive map of Morocco. The Greens will play in a more classic outfit, bearing only the Moroccan national flag, used during the preliminary rounds.
A strategy to ease tensions?
This choice, which might seem trivial, could nevertheless be interpreted as an attempt to avoid further controversies. Raja’s communication, however, has left some ambiguity. Indeed, a video posted the day before on the club’s official social media showcased the new “premium” jersey, emblazoned with the comprehensive map of Morocco, accompanied by the slogan: “Our official jersey for glory in the CAF Champions League.” This discrepancy between the official announcement and the media promotion of the jersey raises questions.
This affair illustrates the latent tensions surrounding the relations between the two countries and the frequent instrumentalization of sports for political purposes. Although Bouzok’s denial seems to close the chapter on the accusations, the immense interest generated by this controversy shows that the topic remains sensitive.
For Raja, the challenge now is to focus on the pitch and extinguish any controversy that could disrupt their campaign in the Champions League. As for Yousri Bouzok, his affirmed commitment to the club may allow him to quickly turn the page, provided this clarification is accepted by all parties.
This situation, far from unprecedented, recalls similar cases that occurred last season with Algerian players competing in Botola INWI. Back then, some also refused to wear jerseys bearing the map of Morocco, succumbing to the pressure of the tense political climate between the two countries.
This affair is reminiscent of the incident that shook the CAF last season, when the Union Sportive de la Médina d’Alger (USMA) refused to play a semi-final against Renaissance Sportive de Berkane (RSB). Once again, the cause was the jersey of the Berkanis featuring the comprehensive map of Morocco.
Currently, if Raja has chosen to maintain its position, it reinforces the message already conveyed by the CAF: national symbols should not be used as a pretext for politicizing sports competitions. Yet, the extremists next door persist in instrumentalizing sports to prolong an anachronistic hostility, fueled by an official Algerian rhetoric far from sporting values.
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