Rabat, Morocco (TMT)- The Algerian government gave Algeria’s U-17 team a military reception in a bet to encourage them to win against Morocco, deemed Algeria’s worst enemy by the current establishment.
The quarterfinal football match has generated a lot of interest and ticket sales. The Algerian media has reported that around 22,000 tickets have been sold for the match and the demand for tickets has been unprecedented due to the huge coverage from state media.
Representatives of the Algerian military establishment, high-ranking officers from customs, gendarmerie, and police, including the governor of Constantine province were present ahead of the game.
The Algerian media, at the image of the officials, has been inciting fans against the Moroccan team, which triggered the Algerian fans to support all teams that played against Morocco in the group stage, whistling ad booing the Moroccan players.
Yes, the game is very important as the winner will qualify for the next World Cup, but all players are still considered minor as they did not reach yet the legal age of 18, which triggers huge concerns.
This is sad to see as it sends the wrong message to minors. Rather than emphasizing values such as brotherhood and fair play, which football is known for teaching, they are taught from a young age all the wrong messages. This is about soccer, not about politics.
The Moroccan Times.
