A criminal trial concerning corruption allegations within the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) commenced with 19 defendants appearing before the court. The proceedings include three former presidents of the organization: Charaf-Eddine Amara, Kheireddine Zetchi, and Djahid Zefizef. Prosecutors have brought charges against these officials as part of a broader investigation into the management of the federation. The case examines the administrative and financial conduct of the leadership during their respective tenures. Authorities are reviewing the activities of the individuals named in the indictment alongside other defendants involved in the case. The court is expected to hear evidence regarding the operations of the FAF as the trial continues.
Administrative Contracts and Procurement
The Algerian Football Federation (FAF) maintained its equipment contract with Adidas after the company increased its financial offer from 900,000 euros to 1.6 million euros. Regarding international logistics, the federation entered into a contract with the Tunisian agency Concorde voyages to manage training camps and organize friendly matches against Mali and Nigeria. Domestic operational costs also face scrutiny, specifically concerning the private hotel Tazrout Olympic located in Dely Ibrahim. The FAF contracted the facility for team accommodation, with expenses totaling approximately 500 million centimes for a five-month period. Investigators are currently reviewing these procurement agreements and service contracts to determine their compliance with established administrative regulations during the tenures of the former federation officials.
Warehouse Management and Software Issues
N. Abdelghani served as the General Administration Director of FAF from July 2017 until his resignation on 30 May 2021. Regarding his oversight role, N. Abdelghani told the court: "Madam President, I was responsible indirectly, as I only monitored the latter’s activity, whether in terms of orders sent to the national teams or orders submitted by the presidency or the general secretariat of the federation."
Internal records indicate that a technical error in the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software implemented in 2020 caused some inventory items to be recorded with a price of zero. Investigators are examining how this software malfunction impacted the tracking of assets during the tenure of the former administration.
Testimony from Former Officials
B. Hadjer served as the warehouse manager for the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) between 2013 and 2023. During the trial proceedings, B. Hadjer addressed the court regarding the digital recording processes he oversaw during his tenure. He stated, "Madam President, I was tasked by the administration director with recording the exit of goods at the level of the ERP application for warehouse management, which is a new application that was introduced in 2020."
Separate from the testimony regarding inventory procedures, the court examined financial findings related to international team operations. A supplementary expert report concluded that no financial damage occurred regarding the 18 million DZD allocated for the national team's training camp in Austria. This assessment serves as part of the ongoing review of the financial conduct of the former federation officials during their time in office.
