A real rapprochement needs to occur between Morocco and Algeria
By: Abdelaziz Karraky
The global popularity that football is enjoying today has turned it into a field where political, economic and social interests interact, thus making the organs supervising this sport gain a power that many international organizations do not have. This popularity has also been influenced by politics, as it often contributed to increased tension in political relations between some countries, especially in Latin America where people love football very much. In the Arab world, football fans have sympathized with the Algerian national team, because it was the first Arab team to go beyond the myth of major teams when they defeated Germany in the World Cup 1982.
As for the Arab Maghreb, when the team of one of the countries is excluded, its fans turn to supporting the Maghreb team that is still in the competition.
This behavior is regulated by multiple factors, including the common past, identity and culture of these countries. Therefore, football can probably contribute in restoring warm relations between Morocco and Algeria.
Football is indeed a bridge between the two countries since there is a constant mobility among their respective teams. As a matter of fact, many Algerian coaches and players have joined Moroccan teams, and have rendered outstanding services to them. However, the politicization of sports, as happened in 1979 during a game in the knock-out phase between Morocco and Algeria, with to the use of the media as an emotional tool to transform a common sports game into a real battle, has proved that politicians can use all possible means to expand their circle. That game was in fact considered a war between politicians, rather than a game ruled by honest athletic competition, given the major unprecedented changes in management bodies right after the game, that took place for the first time in the history of Moroccan sports.
In light of the current political relations existing between Morocco and Algeria, it is certain that all the dynamics taking place in other areas could fall behind to allow political dominance and submission to the use that politics want. While the economy is a hub of political rapprochement in other corners around the globe, like Europe, the case is totally different in the Arab Maghreb where the equation requires that the political rapprochement occurs first, only to pump life in other fields afterwards. This equation condemns all other types of rapprochement to remain fragile and merely circumstantial.
Let’s dare to say that building a real rapprochement bridge between Morocco and Algeria starts first by looking to the future, and abandoning all stereotypes that were created in the past by both parties against each other. Secondly, let’s look at the geography of the region, which brings the two countries together, by not imposing any natural barriers between them. And thirdly, we should be able to list the benefits of rapprochement, and the losses occurred and still occurring due to separation.
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Your Comments
commentsAnonymous About over 3 years ago
Good evening Sir. I missed reading your enlightening articles that earn the readers’ respect even if they do not agree with your ideas. Moroccan and Algerian peoples have indeed a lot in common, but the impact of politicians blows the mutual emotions between the two peoples. An evidence of this is the inability of Maghreb peoples to demand opening the borders between the two countries, and impose their will on the politicians. The peoples of the Arab Maghreb are united by factors that do not unite other nations, but the idea that impedes the union of the two countries is that the politicians in the Arab Maghreb countries are governed, or rather controlled, by a superiority complex. They all long for the Arab Maghreb, but with the condition of being the strongest country in it. As long as unity is not seen as a joint bilateral cooperation which requires self-denial from all parties, it will remain a dream that’s difficult to achieve.
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Anonymous About over 3 years ago
I decided not to comment on your article until the game between the two brother countries is over, and I realized that some of the things that you mentioned in your article are actually true. The political authorities of both countries have used this game to distract their peoples’ attention from the disadvantages of politics. Consequently, the constant criticism towards the authority turned to talks about teams. Many cities in both countries witnessed the preparation of public forces in order to control the results of expanding the politics’ circle, as you said, to include sports. What a pity to see Arab peoples substituting the victories in all areas of life by football victories.
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Anonymous About over 3 years ago
Peace be upon you. Moroccan and Algerian peoples enjoy strong and old relations that have lasted for years. They have been one family since a long time, and this is reflected in the family relations and ties of kinship that exist until today especially here in the eastern region of the kingdom. There are no conflicts or personal animosities between the two peoples; this is a known fact. As for football and the recent uproar about cheering for the Algerian team, I think that it is only a retaliation against the Egyptian team. As for whether football would serve as a bridge between Morocco and Algeria, I believe that it won’t as long as the political authorities remain the same since they haven’t been able to improve these relations, especially with regard to opening the Moroccan-Algerian borders despite the numerous attempts by the Kingdom of Morocco, as well as resolving the Moroccan Sahara issue. The relationship between the two peoples has always been good, but the problem resides in the political powers.
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Anonymous About over 3 years ago
Dear Sir. I have read your article, and I must say that it tackled a key point in the lives of Arab peoples. You are absolutely right about the politicization of sports. I know that for all regimes that suffer from democracy deficiency, authorities need to use all the events that affect the masses in order to slightly consolidate their legitimacy, which was the case for both Egypt and Algeria. Popular sports, especially football, are a very good instrument to disorient the public opinion, and distract attention from real problems. Elmeki Frifras.
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Anonymous About over 3 years ago
The authorities finally woke up from their deep slumber and felt sympathy towards their poor people; they called on all managers, employees, and agents to serve the people, ensure their comfort, and provide them with all types of transport means. They also deployed army means in order to ensure the comfort of citizens. To go on with the exemplary Al-Hatimi-like generosity, the authorities even offered game tickets free of charge for the citizens to enjoy watching a football game that many journalists considered a battle that requires bragging about roots and descents, and mentioning glories and championships, and reminding those who have forgotten, or pretended to, that Antar Ibn Shaddad is still present among us, and that we are ultimately his grandsons, roaming around and beheading people. And all that was on the occasion of a football game. What a real masquerade! And what a terrible misery for our politicians! Those politicians were unable to achieve anything, so they politicized football and conducted real wars, but in a field where ethics are a prerequisite for competition. That’s why I liked your article and how you talked about the expansion of the political circle. I wish this circle had rather expanded to include corruption, bribery, nepotism, and all forms of backwardness prevailing in many countries of our Arab nation, and that politics would have stayed away from football, which is at the end just sports and games, nothing more. Mehdi Al-Wancharissi.
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