BY: Dr. Hana Saada
In an emergency meeting with elite referees and club presidents, FAF President Walid Sadi calls for strict adherence to fair play and accountability amid rising tensions, controversial officiating, and the looming threat of stadium violence during the critical final stretch of the Ligue 1 Mobilis season.
Algiers, Algeria | April 23rd, 2025 — As Algeria’s football championship enters its decisive phase, the President of the Algerian Football Federation (FAF), Walid Sadi, has issued a stark warning to referees and football stakeholders: act with impartiality, firmness, and precision—or risk fueling further violence in the nation’s stadiums.
On Monday, in a high-stakes gathering held at the headquarters of the FAF, Sadi convened elite referees and members of the Federal Arbitration Commission to address what the Federation openly describes as a “volatile and explosive” situation plaguing recent Ligue 1 Mobilis matches. The meeting was prompted by a disturbing spike in officiating errors, many occurring during matches with major implications for the title race and relegation battle.
According to the FAF’s official statement, Sadi did not mince words. “The accumulation of refereeing mistakes has severely undermined the credibility of our championship,” the president declared, voicing deep concern over escalating tensions and a growing atmosphere of mistrust that has cast a shadow over the final stretch of the season.
While stopping short of blaming the referees directly for the wave of violence that has recently marred Algerian football venues, Sadi stressed that the refereeing body must rise to the occasion. “This is a call to responsibility,” he stated firmly. “You have been entrusted with a critical mission, and with that comes an immense burden. Your decisions impact the integrity of the game and the emotional temperature of tens of thousands.”
The FAF president made it clear that mistakes—intentional or not—risk damaging the already fragile trust between fans, clubs, and the federation. He further urged the Commission to supervise the referees closely and provide them with every tool necessary to succeed during what he termed “a highly sensitive period where sporting stakes are immense.”
In a rare but significant show of support, Sadi reaffirmed his backing of Algeria’s referees but insisted that such support must be earned through discipline and vigilance. “We will stand with you,” he affirmed, “but we expect you to show concentration, professionalism, and unwavering neutrality.”
In tandem with this meeting, the Federation’s Director of National Refereeing, Mehdi Abid Charef, underlined the urgency of the moment. Speaking to the FAF website, he described the gathering as “a pivotal initiative to heighten awareness among referees and ensure they fully embrace the seriousness of the remaining fixtures.”
The president’s campaign for integrity extended beyond the referee corps. Later that same day, Sadi convened all Ligue 1 club presidents to reinforce the collective responsibility each actor bears in ensuring the championship concludes without further turmoil. He reminded them that “every stakeholder is now more than ever committed to guaranteeing the smooth conduct of the competition in accordance with the principles and values of sport.”
