Algeria’s football association stated on Wednesday that all competitions and matches would be suspended “in solidarity with the Palestinian people” during the Israel-Gaza war.
Following a request from the Palestinian FA, the governing body earlier agreed to host the Palestine national team’s upcoming football matches.
Algeria international Riyad Mahrez, who won the Premier League five times before joining Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli from Manchester City in July, posted a photo on social media of himself holding the Palestinian flag on the pitch following his country’s 5-1 win over Cape Verde last Thursday.
West Ham United’s Said Benrahma and Istanbul Basaksehir’s Ahmed Touba joined Mahrez in holding the flag in a photo captioned “We want peace.”
Algeria and Mahrez drew 1-1 with Egypt on Monday in Abu Dhabi, with Egypt’s captain, Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, calling for “world leaders to come together to prevent further slaughter of innocent souls” on Tuesday.