EST football club faces player contract disputes amid fan criticism

The Tunisian club Étoile Sportive du Sahel (EST) said it had settled the case of midfielder Youssef Blaili, who opted to join MC Alger, asserting that it honoured salary, benefits and support during his injury and blaming the player for ingratitude. Blaili’s camp, citing Algerian media, claims unpaid wages and a one‑third salary reduction in his new contract, prompting mixed reactions from supporters.

A second dispute involves forward Ribeiro, who arrived in Tunis but has not signed with EST because of an unresolved six‑month contract with Ittihad Tripoli and a pending issue with South Africa’s Sundowns. Club officials, including director Hamdi Meddeb and sporting manager Chokri El Ouaer, have been criticised for their handling of both cases, leading to fan backlash against the administration.