Algerian Commentator Reignites Zellige Dispute During Soccer Match

While commenting on the match on the beIN Sports channel, he repeatedly stated that zellige was of Algerian origin. "Algerian zellige is present everywhere, in the stadium and in the schools... It is part of Algerian culture," he said, thus reigniting tensions between Morocco and Algeria.

This is not the first time the subject of zellige has caused friction between the two Maghreb countries, with each country claiming paternity of this ancestral decorative art.

To recall, Algeria officially filed a file with UNESCO last April for the art of zellige to be recognized as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity. This step is part of a context of rivalry with Morocco, which also claims paternity of this art. Algeria already has 11 elements inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage and has also submitted a file for the traditional dress of eastern Algeria. A common Arab file on henna will be examined in December 2024.

This is not the first time the sports commentator has incurred the wrath of Moroccans. In January 2022, Hafid Derradji was accused of having uttered insults towards Morocco and Moroccans following Algeria’s elimination from the 2021 CAN. Despite his explanations, the anger persisted, and the Moroccan Bar Association had filed a complaint against him with the Attorney General of Qatar.