Qatar's lack of sportsmanship in Balaïli's contract termination

The former Qatar SC left winger and Algeria national team member has had his contract with the Qatari club terminated after scoring 17 goals in 25 games.

It makes little sense for a player who has performed so well not to remain with the team.

Both player and team have stated that the termination was by mutual agreement and wished each other the best of luck for the future.

Some media have linked this decision to Qatari pride. The failure to assimilate the elimination from the Arab Cup in an excessively long injury time that in the end was counterproductive to the interests of the hosts. Let's remember that it went on for almost 19 minutes.

Qatar were 0-1 down in the 90th minute, but equalised in the 96th minute, before Algeria went on to win the match on a penalty converted by Balaïli.

If this is the case, the lack of sportsmanship would be obvious. In the world of football there have been cases of players who, with their national team, have eliminated the national team of the country where they play and in no case were reprisals taken against them. Sportsmanship has always prevailed. That is why this case is very striking as it was immediately terminated. The very next day after the elimination.

Coincidentally, Algeria's Youcef Belaïli made his debut for his national team in a match against Qatar in 2015. It ended in a 1-0 result in favour of the Qataris after Ali Assadalla's goal.

The left-footed striker left Algeria in 2012 to play for Espérance de Tunis and from there to Angers SCO in France. In 2018 he returned to Tunisia to the same team and from there to Saudi Arabia, to Al-Ahli where he scored 6 goals.

In 2019 Algeria were African Cup champions and Belaïli was one of the most outstanding players of the tournament.

This aroused the interest of several European teams, but he opted for Al-Ahli and later for Qatar SC where he has more than fulfilled by scoring 17 goals. A priori and if there is no information that we do not know, the lack of sportsmanship is evident. 

In France there is great interest in this player, in particular Montpellier is interested. We wish him all the best in his new club.