Kheireddine Zetchi has been sentenced to eight years in prison by the Sidi M’Hamed court in Algiers, almost two years after the former president of the Federation Algerienne de Football (FAF) was placed in detention.

The ruling, delivered on Tuesday, also saw former FAF president Charafeddine Amara receive an eight-year sentence. Djahid Zefizef, another former holder of the post, was given six years, while Abdelghani Nekkache, the federation’s former administrative director, was sentenced to three years.

The convictions came a week after proceedings ended at the economic and financial criminal division. Prosecutors had requested 10-year prison terms and fines of five million dinars for several defendants, including former FAF leaders.

The case examined the federation’s financial management between 2017 and 2023. The allegations included abuse of office, embezzlement of public funds and the awarding of contracts in breach of regulations, allegedly providing unjustified benefits.

Zetchi had been held in pre-trial detention since November 2024. His trial was postponed six times before the hearings finally concluded.

Throughout the proceedings, Zetchi’s defence sought his acquittal. His lawyers argued that the FAF’s financial accounts had been approved by its general assembly and that the federation’s status as an association meant it was not subject in full to the public procurement code.

They also presented evidence intended to demonstrate the former official’s personal integrity. According to his lawyer, Me Feddag, Zetchi returned to the federation the annual $20,000 allowances he received from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), using the money to support women’s football and youth teams.

The defence further said he had personally paid for part of the renovation of the national team hotel at the Sidi Moussa National Technical Centre.

In his final statement to the court, Zetchi said: “Every night, I ask myself what my fault was.” He maintained that he had always acted with integrity.

Zetchi founded Paradou AC and its highly regarded academy before leading the FAF from 2017 to 2021. His time in office included the appointment of Djamel Belmadi and Algeria’s triumph at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, when the country won the competition for the first time in 29 years.

The verdict has had a major impact on Algerian football. Zetchi’s sentence is close to the punishment requested by prosecutors, although his legal battle could continue through the appeals process.