Morocco’s RS Berkane Jersey Banned for Depicting Western Sahara Map, CAS Confirms

Khoshnaw Rahmani
Jul 27
3 min read

Khoshnaw Rahmani, Jadetimes Staff

K. Rahmani is a Jadetimes news reporter covering sport.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport upholds CAF’s ban on RS Berkane’s jersey for political messaging.

1. Breaking News Summary

In a landmark decision on February 27, 2025, the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) confirmed that Moroccan club RS Berkane’s jersey—featuring a map of Morocco that included the disputed Western Sahara region—violates regulations prohibiting political statements on competition kits. CAS upheld an appeal filed by the Algerian Football Federation, reinforcing CAF’s original ruling from April 2024.

2. Context: The Western Sahara Dispute

Western Sahara is a phosphate-rich territory on Africa’s northwest coast claimed by both Morocco and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), backed by the Polisario Front. Following Spain’s withdrawal in 1975 and a UN-brokered ceasefire in 1991, the promised referendum on self-determination has yet to take place. Morocco administers roughly 80% of the territory; the Polisario controls the remainder from camps in Tindouf, Algeria. Both sides continue to press their claims through diplomacy, international organizations, and symbolic gestures—including sport.

3. The Jersey Controversy Unfolds

Design Release (2023): RS Berkane unveiled a home kit displaying a red outline of Morocco encompassing Western Sahara, topped by Morocco’s green star.
Seizure at Algiers Airport: Ahead of the CAF Confederation Cup semi-final against USM Alger, Algerian authorities confiscated RS Berkane’s jerseys, citing political provocation.
CAF Decision (April 2024): CAF initially ruled that the jerseys breached its kit regulations but denied Algeria’s request to award match victories by default, leading to further protests. RS Berkane refused replacement kits, forcing forfeitures and default wins for Berkane in both legs.

4. CAS Ruling and Legal Reasoning

CAS’s panel of arbitrators delivered a 38-page award, concluding that the map on RS Berkane’s jerseys constituted “propaganda of a political nature” by asserting a contested territorial claim. The tribunal cited CAF and FIFA regulations that forbid any “political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images” on kits. As a result, the ban on the map-bearing jerseys was upheld as lawful and final.2

5. Reactions and Regional Impact

Moroccan Authorities: Labeled CAS’s decision “an affront to national sovereignty,” arguing that the map reflects Morocco’s historical borders.
Sahrawi Activists: Welcomed the ruling as a stand for neutrality in sport and a rare check on Morocco’s symbolic assertions.
Football Analysts: Warn that interweaving geopolitics with sport risks alienating fans and destabilizing regional competitions.
CAF Response: Announced plans to review and tighten kit-approval guidelines ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

6. Timeline: Sport Meets Sovereignty

Date	Event
October 2023	RS Berkane launches jersey with disputed-map design.
April 2024	CAF rules the kit breaches regulations; denies Algeria’s full-match victory plea.
November 2024	CAS hears appeal by Algerian FA and USM Alger.
February 27 2025	CAS upholds ban on RS Berkane’s map jersey.

7. Comparative Analysis: Political Imagery in Sport Kits

Case	Kit Element	Governing Body’s Ruling
RS Berkane vs. CAS & CAF	Map including W. Sahara	Banned for political messaging
FC Barcelona (Spain) vs. La Liga (2020)	Catalan independence symbols	League warned; fines imposed
Seattle Sounders (MLS, 2021)	Black Lives Matter patches	Permitted with league approval
Olympique Marseille (Ligue 1, 2018)	Palestine solidarity shirt	Club reprimanded; removed kit

8. Implications for Western Sahara’s Sovereignty Debate

This ruling underscores how cultural and sporting arenas have become extensions of the Western Sahara conflict. By enforcing neutrality, CAS and CAF reaffirm that international sport bodies can—and will—curb political statements, even when tied to deeply rooted territorial disputes. The decision may influence future actions by Moroccan clubs and national teams, and could prompt renewed scrutiny over symbolic representations in global competitions.

9. Conclusion

The CAS confirmation of RS Berkane’s jersey ban highlights the fine line between national pride and prohibited political messaging in sports. As Morocco gears up to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, this episode serves as a potent reminder: in international sport, rules on neutrality can outmaneuver even the most emotive territorial assertions.