Returning from the Club World Cup, Algerian international Youcef Belaïli was briefly detained at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport following an incident on board his flight.
The former Esperance Tunis winger, fresh off a solid showing in the Club World Cup, was stopped by French police after landing in Paris from New York. The altercation reportedly stemmed from his refusal to secure his young son with a seatbelt during the flight. Witnesses say the argument with the flight crew escalated, nearly turning into a physical confrontation, prompting police to intervene. Belaïli was handcuffed and escorted from the plane but later released, as the authorities deemed the case insufficient for prosecution.
“Algerian and proud, you bastards”
Shortly after, Belaïli posted a defiant message on Instagram, writing “Algerian and proud, you bastards,” alongside photos of the airline staff. His father defended him in the Algerian media outlet Ennahar, claiming Belaïli was insulted by French police and targeted unfairly. “He refused to force his son to wear a seatbelt due to his young age,” his father said.
The incident slightly tarnishes what had been a strong Club World Cup performance for Belaïli, who scored the winning goal in Esperance’s only victory. A reminder, though: in air travel, safety rules apply to everyone — regardless of age or status.
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