🔴 Crisis in Paris: Espérance president's intervention saves Belaïli!

On Wednesday, July 2, Paris’s Charles de Gaulle International Airport became the scene of an unexpected incident involving Algerian international Youcef Belaïli (33), who was detained immediately after disembarking from a flight from New York following a dispute that occurred onboard.

According to well-informed sources, the incident was triggered by the player's refusal to fasten the seatbelt of his two-year-old son, which led to an altercation with the cabin crew. Concerned by the situation, the captain contacted French authorities before landing.

Thanks to Hamdi Meddeb's intervention, Belaïli is released

Upon his arrival in Paris, police officers were waiting for Belaïli, who was immediately apprehended. The arrest sparked a wave of confusion across the media and social networks, especially after footage circulated showing a man dressed similarly to his brother, Amir Belaïli.

After verification, it was confirmed that the person arrested was indeed Youcef Belaïli, not his brother as some had initially believed.

According to the Algerian outlet “DZfoot”, the president of Espérance Sportive de Tunis, Hamdi Meddeb, acted swiftly in the matter. His decisive intervention helped speed up proceedings and led to the release of the player, a former star of the Tunisian club.

However, several French media outlets report that Amir Belaïli, who was also on the flight, is still being questioned by authorities as the investigation continues.

Read also: Club World Cup 2025: Youcef Belaïli still among the best

Mohamed Rek |

Editorfr, ar, en

Mohamed Rek- sports content writer with over 10 years of experience creating football content in Arabic and French for platforms such as Foot Africa and Starafrica, combining accuracy, creativity, and audience engagement.