On Friday, the Algerian Football Federation received its first official response from the International Football Federation (FIFA) regarding the request to replay the match between Cameroon and Algeria in the decisive round of the African qualifiers for the Qatar World Cup. The federation published a statement on its official website confirming that it had received an official communication from FIFA's refereeing committee.
FIFA's correspondence stated that all controversial incidents during the Algeria vs. Cameroon match were thoroughly "examined" by the Video Assistant Referees (VAR) during the game. The refereeing committee also expressed regret that the Algerian federation felt that the referee altered the course of the match. This was a clear indication of the validity of Gambian referee Bakari Papa Gassama’s decisions, distancing the possibility of replaying the match, according to analyses by Algerian media.
On Monday, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee announced its final decision regarding the Algeria vs. Cameroon match, rejecting the appeal from the "Desert Warriors" for a replay. The committee decided to impose a fine of 3,000 Swiss Francs on the Algerian Football Federation due to fan disturbances in the stands of the "Mustapha Tchaker" stadium, which included throwing projectiles and lighting fireworks.
