Finally, the threats made by the FAF and USM Alger have come to pass. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has registered the appeal lodged by the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) and Union Sportive Medina d'Alger (USM Alger) against the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) and Club Renaissance Sportive de Berkane (RS Berkane).

The match did not take place because the visiting team (RS Berkane) had their jerseys confiscated on arrival in the country, as the immigration authorities considered them to contain an unacceptable political message (a map showing a disputed area between Algeria and Morocco).

CAF issued a statement on Sunday 21 April saying: "The first leg of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup semi-final between USM Alger and RS Berkane in Algiers, Algeria, did not take place as scheduled today, 21 April 2024. The matter will be referred to the relevant authorities. CAF apologises for the inconvenience caused to our sponsors, TV partners and fans".

Naturally, the match did not take place and the African Football Tribunal awarded the Algerian team the tie, with the second leg to be played on Moroccan soil.

The second leg was also cancelled, despite the fact that the visitors, USM Alger, had arrived at the stadium for the match, but failed to take the field minutes before kick-off. With only one team present, the home side, the second leg was abandoned.

The appeal was lodged against the decision taken by the CAF Appeal Committee on 21 April. This decision upheld the earlier decision of the CAF Interclubs Committee, which confirmed the use of RS Berkane's shirts for the 2023/24 CAF Confederation Cup.

Together with their appeal, the appellants submitted an urgent request for the immediate suspension of the implementation of the contested decision. This request was rejected ex parte by the President of the Appeals Division of CAS on 26 April 2024.

In their appeal on the merits, the appellants asked CAS to annul the challenged decision and to rule that the RS Berkane shirt, which the appellants considered to convey a political message, was contrary to the Laws of the Game, CAF regulations and FIFA rules.

With regard to the arbitration procedure, the parties are currently exchanging written submissions and the arbitration panel that will decide the matter is being appointed. Once constituted, the arbitration panel will issue instructions for the next stage of the proceedings, including the holding of a hearing, according to a press release issued by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).