Egypt vs. Algeria – the “hate match” has already kicked off online

algerie-teaser.jpg

Illustration from the Lounis blog

The Algerian Fennecs take on the Egyptian Pharaohs for a place in the 2010 World Cup on November 14. With a week still to go before the game, things have already turned nasty, both countries accusing the other of corruption.  

The qualifier is crucial. For the moment, Algeria have the higher ground - a draw or even a 1-0 defeat would still leave them on their way to South Africa. Egypt, who need to win by a margin of at least three goals to qualify, are hoping the home advantage will give them a helping hand.  

For the fans, the battle has already begun. Insults, aggro and accusations of corruption abound on the Net. Several Facebook groups have urged FIFA, the football governing body, to choose an impartial, European, referee for the match, after the Egyptians were accused of wanting to buy their choice of a suitable candidate.

“We want a competent ref!”

An Algerian fan calls for others to sign a petition demanding a "competent referee" for the match:

"There are suspicions of tomfoolery and corruption. That's why Algerian supporters are demanding an impartial, European referee. We'll send the petition to FIFA's referee committee on 31 October. So far we've got 3,000 signatures. Send it to all your contacts. May the best man win. We don't want it to be because of corruption that we're eliminated."

Their calls were not heard however; FIFA selected a South African and reminded fans of its full trust in African referees.

“We need a top referee in order to avoid another Rwanda”

Younes Hamidouche works in insurance in Algiers. He supports the Algerian national team.

The whole country is waiting with bated breath. It's the most talked about thing in every conversation, whether it's a family chat or coffee with friends. We are extremely attached to our national team.

We need a top referee in order to avoid another Rwanda [the referee refused to count a goal by the Algerian team]. Even if there's no corruption, FIFA made an interesting choice in picking a South African referee. They really should have given us somebody who is very much above the match.

Even if it's just a game, there's a huge rivalry between Algeria and Egypt. It's so big, Algerians living in France and Canada are just as excited. You saw the videos of parties in Paris (see below) and Montreal after we beat Rwanda. Obviously it was massive in Algiers too, but we were a bit gutted after the referee debacle and Egypt's win over Zambia, which meant we were yet to qualify".

Younes Hamidouche's picture

Younes Hamid...

  • Algeria
  • assureur, fan de football

“They accuse us of having bribed the ref for the Zambia match. It’s not true!”

Ibrahim Arafat is a student and fervent Egypt supporter from a suburb in Cairo.

Egypt's going to win, inshallah (if God is willing"). The Algerians will play well, they're going to try hard to block our attacks. But our chances of winning are high.

The Algerians have always been aggressive towards us. We still haven't forgotten about the Belloumi incident [Egyptian team doctor Ahmed Abdul-Minim Abdul-Hadi accused Algerian midfielder Lakhdar Belloumi of hitting and wounding his eye during the 1990 World Cup qualifier in 1989]. This match is going to bring their aggression levels higher than ever. They're already attacking Egyptian players on their Facebook groups and they accuse us of having bribed the ref for the Zambia match. It's not true! We deserved to win.

Tickets for the November 14 match were sold out within a month. The stadium is going to be on fire, and no doubt the streets will be deserted."

Ibrahim Arafat's picture

Ibrahim Arafat

  • Egypt
  • étudiant

Braveheart heroes call on the Algerians to demolish the Egyptians

Posted on YouTube by "Hollowman0031".

The Champs-Élysées in Paris after Algeria’s last victory

Posted on Dailymotion by "Jam931628".

Comments

egypt beat algeria 2-0 and

egypt beat algeria 2-0 and algeria beat egypt 1-0
so what?? like seriuosly does it matter its over. algeria won. why do algerians have to act so bitchy bout it. Egypt will always be better then algeria nd evry one knows that.I think that both egypt's and algeria's behavoir was stupid and un nessesary. They are 2 arabic countries , they should show more respect to one another. (Im from egypt). and Congratulatoin to algeria. Algeria has the right to celebrate but I mean come on there taking it to far. ~

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Team Observers

Team Observers's picture

Team Observers

  • France
  • Journaliste

seee how God with us we are the egyptians

Unregistered user

Algerians will lose!!!

wowww u guys seriously need to chill...[deleted].egyptians are not ruthless or anything they are kind people who get by and live everyday just for the fact of living...soccer is the only thing this country depends on and as u can see it brings everyone together as a family after a win no matter what religion...i am american with egyptian parents and went to egypt more than 15 times for 2 month periods and i love it there...my father works as a diplomat at the United Nations and is a crazy soccer fan...he even knows all the politics behind this game especially and ALGERIANS are seriously some sick people...they act to waste time and to prove it their main goalie got carded because of waisting time and now his ass wont be playing in the final game...and the whole attack on the bus is BULLLSHIT i saw millions of videos and many of my friends saw what happened in real life and all the kids did was throw some rocks at the bus so i dont get how it hurt players but they are very good actors and if they came to the US they could get some nice grammy awards for best actor...and even if they got their asses beat they deserve it because my dads friends in algeria have 100% proof from a cook that POISONED they food of the egyptians when we went to play there so if your calling us bastards and ruthless then u guys seriously need some help...u got what u deserved and now your bitching about it and guess what, WE R GONNA KICK UR ASS AGAIN LIKE WE DID ON SATURDAY...get those tears ready for wednesday cuz your gonna cry allllll nite wen u lose!!! and our players r being gentlemen for now but after the game i guarantee your gonna have [goes on for another 94 pages]

Unregistered user

algerianzzz won the game now soo get over it

no offence ...but u and ur country are jelouse..n u alwayz have been. soo i dont know why your coming on here n chatting rubbish as if its going to make a difference for ur country .....UR WASTINGGGG UR TIME. and im algerian n i know we havent done anything wrong ...n guess wat i also saw sum videos and yhh the egyptians did throw BRICKSSS not rockss. and dont act like ur soo high up when your not ...you and ur country realli need to get ova us because WE WONN!!!!!!!!!!! and we are very proud of ourselves .You guys came n tried hurting our players but guess wat that did nt stop them from playin. just because you know that ur team was rubbish does nt mean u can cum on here like the neeek u are and start talkin bad when your not. YOU LOSTTT get ova it now.

Unregistered user

You need to go back to

You need to go back to school and learn how to write in English or ask your Daddy to hire an English tutor to teach you the basics of your own language.

Unregistered user

don't laugh so hard

don't laugh so hard buddy...people are laughing even more at your english...u need to work on it A LOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT.

Unregistered user

work on your grammar and

work on your grammar and spelling before you write in a language you don't know... it's: what THE algerians are capable of...egypt should be written: Egypt (i.e. in capital letters), Egypt sucks not (egypt suck)...and visit the psych is not even a complete sentence... finally duchbags is not a word it's called douchebag!!
so even if Egypt lost 0-1 in Khartoum, they played fair and the Algerians played dirty...they were very barbaric, savage and unprofessional.
Egypt can't wait to see some Algerian asses being kicked in South Africa. :))

Unregistered user

Algeria vs Egypt

Keep on dreaming you douche bag, low life, foul moudammas face.

Unregistered user

Hahahahhaa!! :-D

Hahahahhaa!! :-D

Unregistered user

Both parties STFU

Both parties the Egyptians and Algerians need to shut the F up. It's a freaking soccer game you morons. The whole world is laughing at us. No wonder why we are third world countries. Because of the ignorance and stupidity. Talking about raping and killing over a soccer game, are ya serious ? It's not like it's the World Cup game, it's only a freaking qualifier. What the hell are ya going to gain when either win ? Absolutely nothing but brag about it for a few days and move one with ya life. Please stop the ignorance and stupidity, I'm allergic to them.

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Algerian Team

I am half algerian half egyptian, and I don't care who goes to South Africa. But I think the Egyptian team is a better fit for a contest like the WC. This is not to upset the Algerian fans, but it is the truth. Look at the experience of their goal keeper and the way they play under pressure. This is the kind of team you would want in the WC. We have to be honest that the Algerian team just woke up from a long sleep, and I don't think it is ready to go into the WC. Also, the Egyptian coach is really smart and has two African Cups in his book - something Saadan does not have. With all my respect to the Algerian team (it is also my team), Egypt is the only arab team who could go further than the first round in the WC. After all, they were able to win a game against Italy and we all saw what they did to Brazil. The Algerian team does not have this kind of experience.

Guys, let us all be respectful and not use terms that we all should not be used. It is just a game. The only arab team that will be in the WC will be the team winning the Sudan playoff. Regardless of who qualifies, let us make sure we are all behind them.

Unregistered user

Algeria vs Egypt

Yeah, why didn't mention the humiliation Egypt suffered against the US team? or you're just being bias, humm. I think you're just pretending to be part Algerien dude. Algeria will prove you wrong.

Unregistered user

Instead of helping other

Instead of helping other Arabs like Palastians, you prefer hepling Israelies. And now instead of showing your hospitality to another arab/muslim country, you actually tried to kills them, you attacked their supporters, killed one, and even raped one Algerian woman after the game.

Do you understand why god has cursed YOU with Hosni Moubarek and his regime, do you understand why you should lose? You are neither Arab nor Muslim, you are Pharoes working for Israel.

As for the Algerian team, they will go to Khartoom, we will kick you ass, and then head to the world cup, while you'll go back sucking some Israeli cocks.

Ps. Algerian Government are sending a military detachement (2000 solders) to protect their team and supporters. I dare you to approach them on Wed.

Unregistered user

Did u Algerians help the

Did u Algerians help the Palestinians ? did Algeria do anything to Palestine , medical supplies , food , water .. medicine , education ?? what did Algeria do to Palestine ? , plus what are we talking about here ? A soccer game and then you brought Palestine and Israel in a stupid argument !!!
listen dude let me tell u something , Egyptians are not cursed ( thank god ) , we did not loose on the 14th of Nov. ( thank god ) , 20 years ago on the night of the 17th of Nov. 1989 Egypt won over Algeria ( by a header " hossam hassan" ) thank god about all that
a history lesson also , Egyptian Pharaohs never worked for anyone. they were a civilization , that people used their science & their knowledge to achieve better things, so RESPECT for history.
what u hear from ignorant people "killing & Rapping" , i was at the game and no such thing like killing or rapping happened all that time. not even before or after,everybody know the hospitality of Egyptian people ,OH YES there was one thing.. ! that stupid act of Algerian players who trashed the bus that was transporting them ... and man they were so stupid cause they got filmed , trashing the airport while they were leaving , beating up people in the airport , and Egyptians did not do anything to them but brought up a police force to protect them till they leave.
Egyptian will win Insha2 Allah.
one thing more .. u pretend to be french rather than say you are Arabs , so don't bring it on here and say you are Arabs , u speak french , u tend to work in France , or whatever place in Europe. you work as bouncers , taxi drivers & drug dealers.
so i know where the violence came from , even one of your are fans came to the game trying to sell heroine and he got caught , hilarious , that's all what i have to say to you.
a long comment , so it will be nice for u to shuffle it up your ass. enjoy it today while u are watching.

Unregistered user

remenber how many female

remenber how many female soldiers did egypt send to entertain the americains
during the golf war 1,you traitors hypocrits.

Unregistered user

RESPECT HISTORY

listen i think you went to far about drug and killing and raping iam alerian live in uk for 20 years iam an fa qualified football coach RESPECT history
algerian are not french are not arabs are not .... go back to history b4 you say anything tell me just whats your level of education ??!!
because football its game of superiority check spelling please
algeria were far better then egypt in 80s 80AC FINAL 82WC,86WC,90AC , champion the only deep in form we had is from 1990 to 2000 which is 10 years of civil war and i lost the statistics how many people lost their life RESPECT HISTORY
Egypt i think is the start its only the start twice african cup but i cant remember qualified to WC if iam mistaken reminder please !
go back to the algerian working in french, boy you have got an old fashion mentality based on my experience and sejour in italy i sow a lot egiptian working on cash in hand doing krishina is kind of hair cut or sort of they perform on tourist i can tel you the place exactly if your interested !!!! so do not be a smart ASS as we can give more then we take

Unregistered user

LOOOOOOOL man you've waisted

LOOOOOOOL man you've waisted ur time writting all that just for a stupid game?? you algerians really need to get a life , you're SOCCER barbarian maniacs!!!

Unregistered user

the game is not stupid but i

the game is not stupid but i would say you are!

Unregistered user

Well, We're happy with hosni

Well, We're happy with hosni mubarak, its none of your own business !
We cant hate a country more than israel, HELPING THEM ??? instead of wasting your time, go read something useful, try to find out whos really helping israel and whos OUR real enemy !!

Well, we didnt touch an Algerian and if that happened, whoever did that is not really egyptian, they are people who are over reacting and they are FEW !

Hahahaha, are you sure you're gonna kick our asses? :( cus we've done that before :/, We can do it again and again and again hahaha

Yes, we're the pharaohs, we're the HISTORY ! we're gonna win isA !
And oh do you Algerians enjoy killing innocent people ?!
We're not arab and you are ?!, we're gonna lose each other for the sake of a soccer game ?? ENJOY THE MATCH TOM BABIES :/

Unregistered user

Sorry FELLOW EGYPTIAN

My Fellow Egyptian, sorry, but you are 100% wrong. Algeria is a sister country, their women are our sisters, their men are our brothers. Football can not make us apart. DEAR ALGERIAN BROTHERS AND SISTER, all of you are brothers and sisters, this is JUST A GAME. ANYONE WHO DARE TO HARM HIS BROTHER CAN NOT CALL HIM SELF AN EGYPTIAN. Fellow EGYPTIAN, if you truly think you are EGYPTIAN, do you accept that your sister to be raped in a non arabic country, think about ur words before saying them. all religions forbid you to talk without thinking. ya ragel ya mo7taram lesanak 7osanak

Unregistered user

Time Wasting

Please can our players learn not to waste time by pretending injury. The timekeeper just adds it on and the Egyptians for all their cheating and poor sportsmanship would not still have been playing after 95 minutes if this stupid wasting time trick hadn't been tried.

Now Algeria must win on neutral ground and we can do it. I wish I could get to the game but the air fare is from £600 here in London. I will be watching the game on sattellite and praying that justice is given and Algeria go through.

And I am English by the way, not Algerian and even I can see what bastards the Egyptians are.

Unregistered user

oh shut up!! it's not like u

oh shut up!! it's not like u r any better!!

Unregistered user

Algeria vs Egypt

I agree with you 100% and I am not Algerian either, well, pretty close, I am Morrocan.

Unregistered user

Read this !

lol, Oh yeah egyptians are the criminals now, yeah right ??
GET A LIFE !!!! we respected Algerians, i know some people was over reacting but you CANT call us bastards, well because we're the history and your the one who started it, you were trying to kill innocent people ! FOR THE SAKE OF WHAT ??? a Soccer game ??? well, you're PATHETIC ! ARAB wake up !!!!!!!

Unregistered user

ohhh boy, what part of that

ohhh boy, what part of that shit you couldnt understand , do i dare to remind you that you BASTARDS, were nothing but slaves traitors, pimps and boot & ass lickers, go back to the pig embassy to sell you sisters and wives to the jews

Unregistered user

you are mad you are ulgy too

you are mad you are ulgy too 123 viva l'algerie .... what an idiot and you are

Unregistered user

are we in a kindergarten or

are we in a kindergarten or what??? u r ugly???? what is that???doesn't your english get any better than this???
I'm sure the guy is crying out loud now...u definitely hurt his feelings!!
hehehe...you Algerians are PATHETICCCCC...
Algeria played like shit and only won because they were playing extremely dirty like they always do... from now on they should be called the dirty team instead of the green team.... show us your fantastic achievements in South Africa...we'll be waiting to celebrate your HUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGEEEEEEEEEE defeats...your asses will be kicked so many times that whole team will need extra space on the air plane flying home because they will be so swollen up from all the kicking!! :))))))))

Unregistered user

oh honey u r saying it

oh honey u r saying it wrong:
1,2,3 fuck l'Algerie!!

Unregistered user

You will be asked about what you say on the day of judgement

Brothers be careful. Allah will ask you about what you say and no one on either team will come to your defense. Let us not say things that would make us carry sins we could avoid carrying isa.

I am half algerian half egyptian, and I don't care who goes to South Africa. But I think the Egyptian team is a better fit for a contest like the WC. This is not to upset the Algerian fans, but it is the truth. Look at the experience of their goal keeper and the way they play under pressure. This is the kind of team you would want in the WC. We have to be honest that the Algerian team just woke up from a long sleep, and I don't think it is ready to go into the WC. Also, the Egyptian coach is really smart and has two African Cups in his book - something Saadan does not have. With all my respect to the Algerian team (it is also my team), Egypt is the only arab team who could go further than the first round in the WC. After all, they were able to win a game against Italy and we all saw what they did to Brazil. The Algerian team does not have this kind of experience.

Guys, let us all be respectful and not use terms that we all know should not be used. It is just a game. The only arab team that will be in the WC will be the team winning the Sudan playoff. Regardless of who qualifies, let us make sure we are all behind them.

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