HIBAPRESS – Shafiq Annouri
Hafid Derradji, the Algerian sports commentator on the Qatari "beIN SPORTS" network, denied that he had predicted the withdrawal of his country's team from the next African Cup of Nations, which will be hosted by Morocco, due to the latter's imposition of visas.
Derradji said that some of those he called "boys and freeloaders in the media" insist on "practicing methods of misleading and deception by fabricating my statements and extracting them from their context." Derradji added in a post published on his Facebook account that some of these had "republished a video clip that I had broadcast on my YouTube channel two years ago, in which I talked about the possibility of Algeria withdrawing from the bid to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (which actually happened)." The Algerian media figure continued: "However, they deliberately falsified and distorted its content intentionally, and falsely claimed that I predicted [days ago] Algeria's withdrawal due to Morocco imposing entry visas on supporters of some African countries, including Algeria." Derradji affirmed that "the decision to impose or cancel the visa is a purely sovereign matter for any country, and no one has the right to dispute it," explaining that "Morocco – like Algeria – exercises its full right to do so whenever it wants, and as dictated by its circumstances, according to what is approved by laws and diplomatic customs." Derradji continued: "Therefore, attributing incorrect positions or statements to me is considered an unethical act that does not serve the media or public opinion, but rather falls within the campaigns of incitement, misinformation and cheap fabrication." Derradji called on "everyone to return to the original video (attached) published on my official YouTube channel two years ago, to make sure of the truth of what was stated in it, away from any interpretation, distortion or falsification," concluding his post by confirming that Algeria, with "its team and its fans, will be present at the continental celebration in Morocco next December, God willing."
