Algerian court sentences former national team coach Rabah Madjer to prison

On Thursday, the Algerian judiciary issued a 6-month prison sentence for the star of the “Desert Warriors” team and the former Portuguese star of Porto. rabeh majorHe was convicted of making “false statements”, according to local media reports.

is accused international player The former, who owned two newspapers (Al-Balagh and Al-Balagh Al-Riyadi), continued to collect bank revenues from public advertisements for a year after the two newspapers were closed.

“All I can say is that I have nothing to do with this case. Neither from near nor from afar. I am innocent,” Majer, who was appointed as an ambassador for the 2022 World Cup, said by phone after the ruling, adding that he would appeal the verdict through his lawyer.

In addition to the false statements, Majer was also charged with forgery and fraud charges, but they were later dropped.

But the 63-year-old former international and his partner, Ibrahim M., were ordered to pay 500,000 dinars (about $3,500) to the Algerian National Agency for Publication and Advertising and 100,000 dinars (about $700) for the misdemeanor of false declaration.

For his part, Majer denied the accusations related to the agency’s revenues, saying that “on November 3, 2019, I officially resigned from Al-Balagh newspaper, and I have official documents from the notary public proving that I have nothing to do with this story.”

Madjer was famous for scoring a goal for the Portuguese team, Porto, in a 2-1 victory over Bayern Munich in the European Champions League final in 1987 with his heel, and he coached the Algerian national team. He also scored a decisive goal for his country in a 2-1 victory over West Germany in the 1982 World Cup.