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FIFA sanctions VAR officials after Algeria's complaint regarding World Cup 2026 match against Argentina
via Algérie3603 min read
Algerian sports journalist Hafid Derradji revealed that FIFA sanctioned VAR officials following a complaint from the Algerian Football Federation FAF regarding the Algeria-Argentina match at the 2026 World Cup. The match, played on June 16, saw Algeria lose 0-3. FIFA's review concluded that there was an error in judgment by the video arbitration during the game, specifically concerning an unpenalized action by Lionel Messi against Algerian captain Aïssa Mandi. The Polish central referee, Szymon Marciniak, was not prompted by the VAR room to review the incident on the pitchside monitor, despite the situation warranting it. This was a key point in the FAF's official complaint, which also cited two other unpunished actions involving Anis Hadj Moussa and Ibrahim Maza. Derradji also shared a testimony attributed to Mandi, who reportedly stated that Marciniak informed him the action was under video review, and approximately 30 seconds later, the VAR room confirmed no infraction, allowing play to resume. This explanation suggests why Mandi did not protest further. The journalist highlighted a significant structural change for this World Cup: a single, centralized VAR room located in Dallas processes all match footage, unlike previous tournaments where VAR facilities were present in host stadiums. The identities of VAR officials remain confidential, a measure Derradji speculates is intended to protect them from external pressure. This centralized system raises questions about decisio
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The National Railway Transport Company SNTF has released the schedules and ticket prices for international rail links between Algeria and Tunisia. Trains depart Annaba for Tunis on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays at 9:00 AM, arriving at 6:27 PM, with stops in Souk Ahras, Ghardimaou, Jendouba, and Béja. In the reverse direction, trains leave Tunis for Annaba on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 8:25 AM, arriving at 6:20 PM. Border formalities are conducted at Souk Ahras station for Algeria and Ghardimaou station for Tunisia. Tickets can be purchased at stations in Annaba, Souk Ahras, Algiers, Oran, Constantine, Sétif, and El Eulma. First-class tickets cost 1,900 DA, and second-class tickets are 1,640 DA. Return tickets are 3,485 DA for first class and 3,040 DA for second class. Children under 4 travel free, and those aged 4 to 12 receive a 50% discount. Additionally, SNTF announced a special discount of up to 20% on domestic return tickets for journeys exceeding 400 km. These return tickets are valid for two months from the date of issue, aiming to promote train travel for long distances and reduce costs for regular users.
Must ReadAlgeria's permanent representative, Ambassador Amar Bendjama, is set to become the next president of the United Nations Economic and Social Council ECOSOC in July. He received unanimous support from the African Group of Ambassadors in New York, meeting under the presidency of Malawi's permanent representative. This unanimous endorsement, which highlights the unity and cohesion of the African continent, precedes the official election by all UN member states on July 23. Bendjama is expected to officially assume his duties at the end of July 2026 for a one-year term until July 2027. The Algerian diplomat expressed gratitude to his African counterparts for their trust and support for Algeria. Bendjama acknowledged the significant challenges ahead, citing insufficient funding, increasing debt burdens, economic shocks, geopolitical crises, food insecurity, unequal access to technology, desertification, and the growing effects of climate change as factors compromising collective development efforts, particularly in Africa. To address this complex situation, the future ECOSOC president advocates for continental cohesion, emphasizing the need for Africa to speak with a stronger, more coordinated, and influential voice within multilateral frameworks to advance the strategic priorities of the African Union's Agenda 2063. His roadmap focuses on structural reform and equitable development, including reforming the international financial architecture to create a fairer global financial sys
Must ReadAlgeria has been unanimously removed from the Financial Action Task Force FATF grey list, a decision announced at the OECD headquarters in Paris on June 19. This move follows two years of significant reforms to the national financial system, which international delegations have praised as "remarkable." The Algerian delegation, led by the Minister of Finance and the Governor of the Bank of Algeria, was present to receive this international recognition. The FATF report explicitly commended the quality and pace of Algeria's transformations, noting that the country took substantial measures to improve its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing AML/CFT regime, with some actions ahead of schedule. Key factors in this success included the personal and consistent involvement of the highest state authorities in guiding legislative and operational projects, as well as the coordinated mobilization of all financial and judicial stakeholders in the country. Algeria was placed on the grey list at the end of 2024 and promptly initiated an ambitious action plan. By February 2026, FATF had already indicated that Algeria had largely completed its action plan, warranting an on-site evaluation. Legislative reforms included strengthening suspicious transaction reporting, establishing a legal framework for targeted financial sanctions related to terrorist financing, and developing an effective system for tracing beneficial owners. Risk-based supervision was also revised, with regula