Djamel Messaoudene Commends Walid Sadi’s Leadership in Aligning FAF Statutes with FIFA Regulations

BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Algiers, Algeria | January 14th, 2025 — Vice President of the Algerian Professional Football League, Djamel Messaoudene, has praised the efforts of Walid Sadi, President of the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) and Minister of Sports, for successfully aligning the FAF’s statutes with those of FIFA and national laws during the extraordinary general assembly held last Saturday.

The majority of the assembly members approved the proposal to amend the statutes and appointed the electoral and appeals committees, with unanimous endorsement. The assembly, held at the Army Hotel in Beni Messous, Algiers, saw members vote ‘Yes’ for the harmonization of FAF’s statutes with FIFA regulations, concluding nearly six years of delay.

Speaking on ‘Dzair Sport,’ Djamel Messaoudene emphasized that Sadi’s dual role as FAF President and Minister of Sports was instrumental in finally resolving the prolonged issue of statute alignment, which had remained stalled since the presidency of Kheireddine Zetchi.

Messaoudene stressed the necessity of harmonizing FAF’s statutes with those of FIFA and national laws, citing the dissolution of the late Mahfoud Kerbadj’s professional league for failing to comply with Algerian association regulations. He elaborated, “FIFA revised its statutes in 2016, introducing 11 new provisions covering racial discrimination, human rights, and labor rights. However, successive FAF presidents failed to implement these changes due to personal differences and a lack of consensus with the Ministry of Sports.”

He further noted that Zetchi’s attempt to align the statutes was met with rejection from then-Minister Khaldi, while his successors, Charaf-Eddine Amara and Djahid Zefizef, faced similar challenges under Minister Hamad. It was only under Walid Sadi’s leadership that the issue was resolved, with Messaoudene highlighting, “Sadi, as both FAF President and Sports Minister, took full responsibility and succeeded in securing the approval of the General Assembly.”

CR Belouizdad’s CAF Champions League Elimination: Lack of Stability to Blame

In a separate matter, Messaoudene addressed CR Belouizdad’s failure to advance to the CAF Champions League quarter-finals, attributing it to instability within the technical staff and squad. The club was officially eliminated after a 2-1 defeat against South Africa’s Orlando Pirates, marking a second consecutive group stage exit.

He remarked, “CR Belouizdad’s management declared the Champions League a priority goal this season, justifying significant spending during the summer transfer window. However, the lack of stability has been evident, especially with the dismissal of French coach Corentin Martins and the swift appointment of Abdelkader Amrani after just a few rounds.”

Messaoudene criticized the club’s frequent squad and coaching changes, stating, “Replacing 10 to 12 players each season and frequently changing coaches disrupts continuity and weakens results both domestically and continentally. The recent win against Al Ahly should have been a morale boost for success in South Africa, but the defeat ended all hopes of qualification.”

He called for a meeting between the club’s majority shareholder, Madar Holding, and CR Belouizdad’s management to address the structural issues and prepare effectively for the next season.

USM Alger’s CAF Confederation Cup Success: A Testament to Experience

Messaoudene praised USM Alger for their qualification to the CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finals, noting their progress due to experience gained from previous participations. “USM Alger’s management did an excellent job during the summer transfer window, and the players have shown great maturity, enabling them to reach the quarter-finals,” he said.

However, he pointed out the club’s offensive struggles, emphasizing, “USM Alger creates many scoring opportunities but lacks efficiency in front of goal. If they aim for deeper progress in the competition, they must reinforce their attacking options.”

Éric Chelle’s Departure from MC Oran: Internal Tensions Revealed

Messaoudene also commented on coach Éric Chelle’s sudden departure from MC Oran to manage the Nigerian national team, attributing it to internal conflicts between the club’s majority shareholder, Hyproc, and the team’s management.

He stated, “Coach Chelle identified significant tensions between the company’s executives and the club’s management, which negatively impacted the squad. His coaching style impressed me; he brought tactical intelligence and adaptability, making his departure a significant loss for the club.”

Messaoudene criticized Hyproc’s recent formal notice to MC Oran regarding their financial spending of approximately 315 billion centimes since the start of the season, stating, “Such matters should be addressed through direct dialogue between the company and the management rather than issuing formal notices, which seem directed at external parties unrelated to Hyproc.”

In conclusion, Djamel Messaoudene reaffirmed his support for Sadi’s leadership and called for greater collaboration among Algerian football stakeholders to ensure long-term success and regulatory compliance.

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