The Algerian Football Association announced on Sunday the termination of its French coach Francois Chicoulini's contract due to his "serious mistake" following a 2-1 defeat to JS Belouizdad Saturday in the Algerian Super Cup final.
The club said in a statement that Chicolini refused to go up to the honorary stage to receive his medal, and the club affirmed that "respect for the supreme authorities of the country is a red line that should not be crossed."
Prime Minister Abdulaziz Jarad supervised the delivery of the Super Cup to the crowning team and honoring the members of the two teams, in the presence of the Minister of Youth and Sports, Syed Ali Khaldi, and advisers to the country's president, Abdul Majid Tebboune.
"Chicolini made a mistake, and he has to take responsibility for that. We will inform him of the decision to dismiss him today. He was affected by the loss, but this is not a reason for disrespecting the ceremonies accompanying the Super Cup," the official APS news agency quoted the president of the Algerian club, Djelloul Achour.
Ashour added, "He was asked to go up to the honor booth to collect his medal, but he stuck to his position. We are frustrated and angry at his strange behavior. We will not let this matter pass without taking the appropriate measures. Even the sports director (Antar Yahya) was surprised by Chicolini's behavior, which had not appeared since Saturday evening. ".
Achour indicated that the management of the Algerian federation will assign the assistant coach to lead the team temporarily, pending the appointment of a new coach.
Chicoulini became the first coach to be reported in the Algerian League, which is scheduled to start next Friday, noting that he joined the Algerian Federation last September.