For the first time in 24 years, Algeria will play for the FIFA World Cup title in June. Its road in getting there, however, shall remain one of the most uproarious yet sobering international affairs tales to date.
In order to qualify, Algeria needed to contend last year with its longtime rival and nearby neighbor, Egypt. To put it simply, when these two countries meet on the football (soccer) field, they make Ohio State and Michigan look tame. The first qualifying match was set in the middle of November in Cairo, and Egypt shut out Algeria 2-0. This left both teams tied for first place in FIFA’s C Group, demanding another qualifying match be played — in a neutral country.
Well, before that could happen, the festivities began. Sure, you might expect violence resulting and a few people getting injured, throngs in the streets, some rioting, maybe even looting. Even in 21st century that’s what we civilized human beings seem to enjoy without fail. And all that happened, right on schedule.
But then in Algiers, the capital city of Algeria, the situation reached a new level of incivility. Egyptian-owned businesses were slapped with a higher tax rate, and some were torched. This was in response to allegations of mistreatment of Algerians in Cairo. Indeed, Algerian fans recounted how one fanatic died from injuries suffered at the hands of Egyptian hooligans; another had his spine broken, and the team itself was stoned by Egyptian fans while traveling in Cairo.
Even worse, the Egyptian government played two-face, issuing pleas for calm and restraint before and after the matches, but then communicating with its (football, not political) rival with harsh words. Cairo summoned its ambassador in Algiers after the initial wave of violence for a consultation, then slapped Algiers with litigation seeking compensation for the private businesses vandalized there. The ambassador wouldn’t return for months — fickle politics at its worst.
There was some football yet to be played, alas. Neutral Sudan was chosen for the deciding match a few days later. 15,000 policemen were dispatched, schools and businesses closed early.
Algerians struck first, stoning Egypt’s team bus in retaliation for Cairo. After Algeria won, 1-0, and secured itself a spot in the 2010 World Cup, “someone” destroyed the buses reserved to transport Egypt’s fans to Omdurman Airport. Egyptian news media then widely and quickly circulated a video of several hundred riotous Algerian fans brandishing knives. This had indeed occurred, but several years earlier, and during an intra-Algerian match.
So, what is the moral of the story? Our shortsightedness of whatever greater goal we have ascribed for ourselves cannot come at the expense of our humanity. You and I are evolved humans, but ask yourself, “When was the last time I worked contrary to my nature and my goals? Did I hurt anyone in the process?”
It is disgusting that humans — especially our leaders — can’t even be civil when it comes to a game. It is more disappointing if we find this same behavior in ourselves.
Parvez Khan is a graduate student in the School of Public Affairs and the religion and international affairs columnist for The Eagle. You can reach him at edpage@theeagleonline.com.
