Algeria league to resume after Ebosse tragedy

Algeria’s domestic league will be resuming on September 12 after being suspended last week following the tragic death of Cameroonian player Albert Ebossé of JS Kabylie.

The professional league office released a statement on Sunday saying the third round of the championship will kick off in the second week of the new month, assuring that adequate security measures have been taken to ensure safety at the country’s stadiums.

“Clubs have been asked to install surveillance and security cameras at their home stadiums and to reinforce controls at entry gates,” the office said.

However, the footballers association and civil society NGOs in the country have questioned the feasibility of the measures adopted by the professional league, suggesting they may not be enough to dissuade troublemakers at sport facilities.

Ebossé, 24, was hit on the head by a projectile from an irate local fan at Kabylie’s stadium in Tizi Ouzou as the players walked off the pitch after losing to USM Alger 2-1 on August 23 in the second match day, according to police report.

The Cameroonian striker was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead moments later, prompting the football federation to suspend the league and JS Kabylie.

The remains of the player was flown to his birth town Douala in Cameroon on Friday August 29 and placed in the military mortuary. The local authorities say a befitting funeral is being arranged for the striker in the weekend of September 12 and 13.