CR Belouizdad Highlights Events in Nigeria and Condemns Refereeing Injustice
The management of CR Belouizdad expressed deep dissatisfaction regarding the events surrounding the team's match against Enugu Rangers in Nigeria, during the first leg of the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League, emphasizing its determination to defend the rights of the club and its fans in light of what it described as transgressions that occurred during the match.
In an official statement, the "Doyen" management raised questions about some refereeing decisions, notably the penalty awarded to the Nigerian team, as well as the second yellow card received by player Osama Ben Hawa, despite the foul being committed by Ayoub Ghazala.
The protests from the Algiers club were not limited to refereeing issues alone; the management reported that members of its delegation faced harassment in the VIP section of the Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, noting that the team's photographer encountered difficulties while broadcasting the match live on the club's official YouTube channel, having to change the camera angle several times.
The management of CR Belouizdad also rejected any attempt to blame the club and its fans for the destruction of chairs, asserting that it has evidence proving that the chairs were broken before the match began.
Additionally, it pointed out the difficulties faced by fans who traveled to Nigeria to purchase tickets, due to the high price of $20 per ticket, which it considered unprecedented for the team's travels in African competitions.
CR Belouizdad's management confirmed that it will do its utmost to defend the rights of the team and its fans regarding the events that accompanied the match, before calling on its supporters to continue displaying sportsmanship during the return leg, scheduled to take place at Ali Ammar "La Pointe" Stadium, and to support the team in achieving qualification for the group stage of the CAF Champions League.
