The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has confirmed receiving an appeal from the Algerian Football Federation and USM Alger contesting CAF’s decision to validate Morocco’s RS Berkane’s use of a jersey that has an alleged political emblem on it.

A fortnight ago, CAF rejected an appeal from the Algeria federation against the CAF Interclubs Committee, which allowed RS Berkane to use their jersey that has an emblem of the disputed Western Sahara on it for the first leg match against USM Alger.

CAF said there was nothing wrong with the jersey and that it had not breached any rules.

After the first leg was not played in Algeria because customs officials confiscated RS Berkane’s jersey, USM Alger refused to come out for the reverse fixture in Morocco despite being at the stadium.

CAF awarded a 3-0 wins to RS Berkane on both occasions, seeing them progress to the final 6-0 on aggregate and will face Egypt’s Zamalek.

Unsatisfied with CAF’s rulings, the Algerian Federation and USM Alger have filed an appeal at CAS, seeking an annulment of those decisions.

“The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has registered the appeal filed by the
Algerian Football Federation (FAF) and Union Sportive Medina d'Alger (USM Alger) (“the Appellants”) against the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) and Club Renaissance Sportive de Berkane (RS Berkane) (“the Respondents”) against the decision taken by the CAF Appeals Jury dated 21 April 2024 (“the Challenged Decision”),” CAS said in a statement dated May 2, 2024.

“This decision confirmed the earlier decision taken by the CAF Interclubs Committee, which validated the use of RS Berkane's shirts for the 2023/24 CAF Confederation Cup.

“Together with their appeal, the Appellants filed an urgent request to immediately suspend the execution of the Challenged Decision. This request was rejected ex parte by the President of the CAS Appeals Arbitration Division on 26 April 2024.

“In their appeal on the merits, the Appellants ask CAS to annul the Challenged Decision and to rule that the RS Berkane shirt, which the Appellants consider presents a political message, contravenes the laws of the game, CAF regulations and FIFA rules.

“In relation to the arbitration procedure, the parties are currently exchanging written submissions and the arbitral panel that will decide the matter is being appointed. Once constituted, the arbitral panel will issue instructions for the next phase of the proceedings, including the holding of a hearing.”