)
Spanish coach Juan Carlos Garrido has resigned after a jersey-related controversy overshadowed the CAF Confederation Cup leading to his team's withdrawal.
Spanish coach Juan Carlos Garrido has announced his resignation from the Algerian football club USM Alger following a controversial incident involving the confiscation of jerseys, as reported by Moroccan channel Medi1 TV.
The dramatic exit comes shortly after the team's forced withdrawal from the CAF Confederation Cup semi-finals due to a dispute over the depiction of Western Sahara on the jerseys of their opponents, RS Berkane of Morocco.
)
07:05 - 03.05.2024
Brian Mandela wins third South African league title with Mamelodi Sundowns
Harambee Stars defender Brian Mandela secured third league title with Mamelodi Sundowns in a dominant 5-1 win over Kaizer Chiefs.
Garrido's resignation was disclosed in an exclusive statement to Medi1 TV where he emphasized his disinterest in the political controversies overshadowing the sport.
"My commitment has always been to football and its integrity. The recent events have shifted the focus away from the sport I love, and I find it necessary to step down," Garrido stated.
The controversy began when Algerian authorities confiscated RS Berkane's equipment, including their jerseys, which featured the full Moroccan map including the disputed Western Sahara region.
)
14:03 - 25.04.2024
USM Alger v RS Berkane: CAF makes decisive ruling in controversial Confederation Cup semi-final
CAF has ruled on the Confederation Cup semi-final first-leg clash due to kit confiscation with further sanctions pending against one club.
This incident occurred upon the Moroccan team's arrival in Algiers for the first leg of their semi-final match against USM Alger.
The Algerian government's refusal to return the items despite efforts from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to mediate the situation led to the cancellation of the match. CAF ruled the first leg in favor of RS Berkane with a default score of 3-0.
In the subsequent second leg, scheduled to be held in Morocco, USM Alger chose to withdraw from the competition further complicating the matter. CAF responded by awarding another 3-0 victory to RS Berkane by default thereby securing their advancement to the finals against Egyptian powerhouse Zamalek.
)
14:32 - 20.04.2024
Why RS Berkane's jerseys sparked detention drama in Algerian airport
RS Berkane were detained at Algiers airport ahead of their Confederation Cup semi-final against USM Alger.
Media reports suggest that Garrido was particularly disheartened by the politicization of the event which he believed detracted from the sport's true spirit.
His departure raises questions about the future direction of USM Alger and the potential repercussions for Algerian football in international competitions.
Follow us on X (Twitter) for more updates
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)