Algerian Handball team withdraws from match over Moroccan jerseys

The Algerian under-20 handball team has withdrawn from their match against Morocco on Tuesday, April 23rd, in Casablanca. This occurred on the third day of the sixth edition of the Arab Under-20 Championship, according to Algerian newspaper El Moudjahid.

The decision stemmed from the Algerians' refusal to play against the Moroccans, who were wearing jerseys emblazoned with the full map of the Kingdom. Moroccan television channel Al Aoula's evening news broadcast footage showing the Moroccan handball players waiting on the pitch for 15 minutes for their opponents, as stipulated by competition rules.

«The referee announced the end of the match due to the absence of the Algerians, awarding Morocco the win», stated the President of the Arab Handball Union in a statement to Al Aoula.

This withdrawal follows a similar incident just three days prior. The match scheduled for April 21st in Algiers between Renaissance Sportive de Berkane (RSB) and Union Sportive de la Médina d'Alger (USMA) was cancelled due to Algerian authorities refusing to allow RSB to play with jerseys displaying the full map of Morocco, despite CAF approval.