Étoile du Sahel contests Youcef Belaïli's eligibility

The management of Étoile du Sahel has officially filed a protest regarding the participation of Algerian international Youcef Belaïli in the recent match against Espérance Sportive de Tunis (EST). The protest challenges the legal validity of Belaïli’s contract with EST, citing a controversy where the player allegedly signed near-simultaneous agreements with both EST and MC Alger during the current transfer window.

While EST recently announced a two-year contract following the lifting of a FIFA suspension, MC Alger maintains they hold a valid contract with the attacker. This legal dispute follows Belaïli’s return to competition, where he captained EST but missed a penalty during the match.

In preparation for the league fixture, EST is integrating several new signings, including Chikhaoui and Sahraoui, to bolster their squad following the departure of several key players. The club aims to secure maximum points in the early stages of the season despite the ongoing contractual uncertainty surrounding Belaïli.