Revelations about Kaddafi’s decision to rescind Libya-Algeria World Cup qualifier in Benghazi

According to revelations made on Wednesday by Libyan newspaper daily “Al Manara”, former Libyan leader Muammar Kaddafi decided, against all expectations, to cancel the second-leg world cup qualifier which was due to be played in 1989 between Libya and Algeria in Benghazi stadium after hasty consultations with then Algerian President Chadli Bendjedid.

• Chadli Bendjedid is said to have expressed fears to Muammar Kaddafi that the return world cup qualifier could be marred by grave acts of violence in and around the Benghazi stadium by frenzied Libyan football fans after their squad’s setback in the first-leg fixture played in Algeria.

• The first-leg match was marked by scuffles between the two sides after the serious injury inflicted on the pitch by a Libyan player on Algerian playmaker at that time Lakhdar Belloumi.

• The atmosphere between the two neighbouring countries was then nerve-wracking and tense and Muammar Kaddafi didn’t waver to cancel the Benghazi qualifier at the last-minute in order to ward off a dangerous rift with the Algerian authorities, the newspaper said.

• The Algerian players who were already in Benghazi stadium ready for action were informed just a few hours before kick-off that the match versus host-team Libya was cancelled for good at the behest of Muammar Kaddafi himself.

• The Libyan daily also revealed that Colonel Kaddafi had also sent troops to quell protests by hundreds of angry football fans outside Benghazi stadium at the sudden and baffling cancellation of the world cup qualifying match versus Algeria.

• It added that dozens of protesters were killed and many others were rounded up by Libyan security forces during the fierce crackdown ordered by Muammar Kaddafi way back in 1989.