2016 Rio Paralympics: Algeria women’s goalball forfeit sparks Aussie outrage

AUSTRALIA’S women’s goalball coach has slammed rival Algeria for “embarrassing” the Paralympic movement with a first-round forfeit.

The Aussies aren’t happy with Algeria in the women’s goalball at Rio.

AUSTRALIA’S women’s goalball coach has slammed rival Algeria for “embarrassing” the Paralympic movement with a first-round forfeit suspected to be fuelled by long-running political tension.

The Algerian women’s team failed to front for their opening match of the goalball tournament against the United States on Friday, sparking speculation the no-show was part of a plan to boycott a round-two clash with Israel.

The International Paralympic Committee says Algeria’s national body has reported the goalball team – five players and two coaches – struck flight difficulties from a training camp in Poland.

They were scheduled to leave Poland on September 5, but the IPC has no evidence the team has arrived in Rio.

“Now, I travel quite a lot around the world, and even when you do miss a flight connection usually you can get there,” IPC head of media Craig Spence said.

“I think there’s a chance that even if you caught a boat from Poland to Brazil you still could have got here in time.

“We’re still working with the Algerians on whether they can give us a sensible explanation.”

Muslim countries – Algeria is one – have a long history of sporting boycotts against Israel stemming from the Arab-Israeli conflict.

A storm erupted during the Olympics last month when Egyptian judo player Islam El Shehaby refused to shake the hand of Israeli opponent Or Sasson after their match.

Australia began their goalball campaign against China.

IPC laws say that no athlete or team can elect to withdraw from a single contest without due cause.

Belief is Algeria used a bogus claim of flight trouble to skip out on the clash with Israel, meaning they also missed their opening-round match against the USA.

Australia is in the opposite preliminary draw to Algeria, yet is at the centre of the controversy.

The Aussie Belles had secured their place in the Paralympic tournament through their No. 9 world ranking, but their spot was revoked earlier this year to make way for the winner of a hastily arranged tournament of African nations.

Algeria won that position, earning Paralympic qualification. The displaced Australian side only regained its invitation on the eve of the Games through Russia’s unexpected ban.

“How do you take a team’s spot five months ago when we had already been announced, and then not turn up?,” Australia coach Peter Corr said.

“If the Russian situation had not come up, we would’ve been sitting at home and Algeria would have forfeited their game. That would’ve been our spot.

“That is embarrassing that a team forfeits a game at the Paralympic Games, when you’ve had a crowd of 3000 people and the Americans didn’t even get a chance to march out.

“That can be as controversial as you like but I don’t care. I don’t think you do that to the Paralympics, because (politics) is not what it’s about.”

Originally published as 2016 Rio Paralympics: Algeria women’s goalball forfeit sparks Aussie outrage