Safi Ferhani player's shirt raises controversy

The shirt of Algerian player Houari Farhani, the left back of Olympique Safi, sparked widespread controversy during his team’s match against USM Algiers, in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup semi-final, which was hosted by the 5 July Stadium in the capital, Algiers.

Farahani's shirt caused a great debate among followers, after it appeared devoid of some symbols, most notably the Moroccan flag, in a move described as strange, especially since the player had previously appeared in the full shirt during previous matches within the same competition.

The fans also interacted widely with this snapshot on social media, where opinions varied between those who considered the matter normal and did not require interpretation, and those who demanded official clarifications to avoid any confusion, especially in light of the sensitivity of such details in continental competitions.

On the field level, the confrontation was characterized by a friendly and strong competition between the two sides, as each team sought to achieve a positive result before the return leg, amid an enthusiastic atmosphere and a remarkable audience presence.

For his part, the player quickly broke his silence to put an end to the controversy, as he explained in a blog post on his personal account on the social networking site “Instagram” that what happened was just an unintended mistake, stressing that the person responsible for the luggage was the one who caused the absence of the flag from the shirt, adding that he did not notice that because of his focus on the match.

Farhani indicated that the matter was remedied during the second half, before he accompanied his post with a picture of the flags of Morocco and Algeria, in a clear message that reflects his respect and pride in the two countries, and his keenness to end any misunderstanding that accompanied this incident.

It is worth noting that the return match between Olympique Safi and USM Algiers of Algeria will take place on Sunday, April 19, at exactly eight o’clock in the evening, on the field of Al-Masirah Stadium in Safi.