MC Alger president facing life ban for players boycott

MC Alger have been accused of 'unsporting behaviour' President of Algerian football club MC Alger, Omar Gharib, is facing a life ban after the club's players refused to accept their Algeria Cup 2013 runner-up medals from Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal, Arabstoday has learnt. The Algerian Football Federation is also expected to suspend team coach Djamel Menad for a year, goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi for 15 matches, and captain Réda Babouche for four games.
Sources have told Arabstoday that all four individuals failed to appear before match referee Gamal Haymodi to explain their post-match conduct.
Chairman of the Algerian Football Federation's Disciplinary Committee Hamid Hadg told reporters on that the committee had heard evidence from match officials and Mouloudia players on Monday.
MC lost the match 1-0 to arch-rivals USM Alger at the 5 July 1962 Stadium, last Wednesday.
Last week, Algerian Olympic Committee chief Mustapha Berraf described the players' actions as "unsporting behaviour."
"I would like to apologise to the authorities for this unsporting behaviour, which has brought shame on Algerian football. I will make sure strong sanctions are taken against those who made the decision [to refuse acceptance of medals]."
USM Alger won its eighth Algeria Cup, courtesy of an 18th minute strike from Mokhtar Benmoussa at the 5 July 1962 Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Mouloudia players boycott of the awards ceremony was the first such incident since the inaugural Algerian Cup final in 1963.