There was reconciliation with Zaher but we will not forgive Algeria insulters, says FAF’s president

President of the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) Mohamed Raouraoua said a reconciliation meeting was held between him and his Egyptian counterpart Samir Zaher to melt down ice between them.

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  “It is time now to forget the past and the football crisis between the two countries. Algeria and Egypt will have to face each other in continental and regional competitions,” Rouaroua told Echorouk on the phone on Wednesday.

  “Me and Zaher put all the conflicts aside and started thinking of the two countries’ interest to avoid any deviation in the future,” he added.

  “I said that to everyone. The FAF bears all its responsibility. It is possible that it did not deal well with the issue. Yet, it is sure that it is time to end resentment. Circumstances impose on us putting all those problems aside and having high spirit.”
  

  “Football remains no more than a game. It should not cause problems in relations between the two countries. Algeria and Egypt share strong historical and religious ties.”
  

  No reconciliation with those who insulted Algeria’s martyrs
  

  The FAF’s president excluded people who insulted Algeria’s martyrs and ambassador to Cairo. “Reconciliation remains and will always be closed to those who insulted our martyrs. They are Algeria’s symbols.”
  

  “Those people will still far from us. There is no link between us and them. The Algerian people will not forgive them whatever they do. They did silly things on which we could not keep silent,” he added.

  Raouraoua and Zaher end one-year-boycott
  

  Raouraoua and Zaher shook hands before satellite channels camera and tens of journalists in Sheraton Hotel in Doha. They opened a new era in football relations between the two countries after the November 12^th events. 
  

  The reconciliation was sponsored by the president of the Qatari Football Federation Sheikh Hamad Ben Khalifa Ben Ahmed Al Thani and the president of the Asian Football Federation Mohamed Ben Hammam. Member of the FIFA’s executive office Hani Abu Rida attended the ceremony.

  Before the conference started, Mohamed Ban Hammam had asked journalists to forget about the past and not to ask questions about apology and past events.
  

  A journalist from Al Ahram of Egypt tried to go back to the past and talked for 5 minutes about what happened. Raouraoua asked him to present his question instead of wasting time.
  

  Samir Zaher: Raouraoua is my friend and the past is over

  Zaher said his relation with Raouraoua is old because they are friends and they were very close to each other. “We sit down newt to each other in presence of Ben Hammam and Sheikh Hamad Ben Khalifa Ben Ahmed but we did not talk about the past.”
  

  “It is over now. A new relation starts for the sake of Algeria and Egypt. I am very happy for starting a new page for distinguished relations between the Egyptian and Algerian people. That would enable to have cooperation. We can start by a visit from any of the two federations.”
  

  Abu Rida: we want three Arabs in the FIFA’s executive office
  

  Abu Rida told Echorouk Mohamed Ben Hammam is a real supporter of all sportsmen. “Me and Ben Hammam will support Raouraoua so that there will be three Arab members in the executive office.”

  A journalist asked Rouaroua and Zaher to shake hands publicly.