The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeal Board has dismissed USM Alger's appeal against the ruling that awarded RS Berkane a 3-0 victory in the CAF Confederation Cup.
The controversy erupted when Algerian customs officials seized Berkane's jerseys upon their arrival in Algeria for the first leg semi-final fixture on April 21, 2024. The confiscation was due to the shirts displaying a map of Morocco that included the disputed territory of Western Sahara, a move deemed provocative by Algerian authorities.
The CAF Appeal Board convened to review USM Alger's appeal against the decision made by the CAF Organizing Committee for Interclub Competitions and Management of the Club Licensing System.
After careful deliberation, the board announced its verdict today, stating that the appeal filed by USM Alger has been dismissed, and the previous decision made by the CAF Organizing Committee on April 24, 2024, stands.
The ruling further stated that all other motions or prayers for relief have been dismissed. This decision effectively ends the kit controversy and solidifies RS Berkane's position in the competition.