Former Algerian Football Federation (FAF) president Kheireddine Zetchi has finally appeared in court over allegations relating to the management of the organisation, after six postponements and almost two years in provisional detention.
The trial of Zetchi and several former FAF officials began on Tuesday, 13 October, at the economic and financial criminal division of the Sidi M’hamed court in Algiers. Former FAF presidents Charaf-Eddine Amara and Djahid Zefizef, who are also being prosecuted, were present.
Proceedings started at about 10:30 before being adjourned at 17:00. The hearing is due to resume on Wednesday morning.
The case stems from an investigation opened in 2024 into several former FAF leaders, including Zetchi, Amara and Zefizef.
Before the court examined the substance of the case, defence lawyers challenged an expert report produced by the General Inspectorate of Finance. They called for it to be declared invalid, arguing that procedural rules may not have been followed and that several parties were neither summoned nor questioned.
The defence also disputed the decision to allow the Ministry of Youth and Sports to join the proceedings as a civil party. Lawyers argued that the FAF is an association which does not receive funds from the ministry.
The judge ruled that both objections should be considered alongside the main case.
Allegations over contracts and competitions
The initial questioning focused on contracts connected to accommodation, the logistics of competitions held in Algeria - including the 2023 African Nations Championship (CHAN) and the Africa U17 Cup of Nations - and bonuses paid after Algeria’s victories at the Africa Cup of Nations and the Arab Cup.
The defendants face accusations including abuse of office, misappropriation of public funds and entering into contracts contrary to regulations in order to provide unjustified benefits.
Those allegations have yet to be proven, and all the defendants remain presumed innocent.
None of the defendants who are being held in custody was questioned during the first day of the trial. Zetchi will therefore have to wait before giving his account of the events.
He has been held in provisional detention since 27 November 2024.
The repeated delays were caused by a number of factors, including defence requests for access to the extensive case file, the absence of certain parties, a hearing coinciding with Mawlid, the religious festival, and the unavailability of a lawyer who was in mourning.
Zetchi remains associated with Algeria’s continental triumph in 2019, achieved during his presidency after he appointed Djamel Belmadi to lead the national team. That sporting success forms part of his legacy but has no bearing on the court’s assessment of his administration of the FAF.
After nearly two years in provisional detention and six postponements, the opening of the proceedings has allowed the allegations to be set against the defence arguments. Much of the evidence and testimony in the case is still to be heard.