Qairawan, Tunisia – Shbiba Qairawan, a prominent football club in Tunisia, has announced the suspension of all football activities across all age groups, escalating a dispute with Tunisian football authorities over what they claim is biased refereeing. The drastic measure, announced Tuesday, March 24, 2026, includes a formal appeal to the President of Tunisia, seeking intervention in what the club describes as a systematic campaign against them.
The decision follows mounting frustration over perceived unfair officiating that Shbiba Qairawan officials believe has negatively impacted their performance in the Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1. Dr. Mohamed Liwan, the president of Shbiba Qairawan, detailed the club’s grievances during a press conference, stating that the errors made by referees have become “systematic.”
“There is a deliberate policy to bring down the team,” Liwan asserted, accusing referees of “stealing the efforts of the players, management, and technical staff.” He further claimed that the club has lost at least 12 points this season due to questionable decisions, including the arbitrary issuing of yellow cards and incorrectly awarded penalties.
The club’s protest isn’t limited to verbal complaints. Shbiba Qairawan intends to pursue legal action against the referees they believe have acted unfairly. They are also withdrawing their confidence in the national refereeing administration and are demanding the appointment of foreign referees for their remaining matches in the league. Should their request for foreign officials be denied, Liwan stated the club will pursue legal action against any Tunisian referee assigned to their games for any perceived biased decisions.
This isn’t simply a call for better officiating; Shbiba Qairawan is seeking a fundamental change in how matches are overseen. The club plans to formally lodge a complaint with FIFA, the international governing body of football, alleging manipulation of results and requesting an investigation into the matter. They are also preparing a petition to be presented to the President of Tunisia, seeking support in restoring fairness to the league.
Beyond appealing to the President and FIFA, Shbiba Qairawan is also requesting the Ministry of Youth and Sports to establish a committee comprised of impartial referees to oversee the sector. This move underscores the club’s deep-seated concerns about the integrity of Tunisian football officiating.
The suspension of football activities will begin at the end of the current week, impacting all levels of the club’s youth system. The initial phase will focus on suspending activities for youth teams, with a broader suspension planned for all categories.
Currently, Shbiba Qairawan occupies the 14th position in the Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 standings with 21 points. Their recent exit from the Tunisian Cup, following a controversial penalty decision in the final moments of their match against Club Sfaxien, appears to have been the final catalyst for this dramatic response. The club feels the penalty was wrongly awarded and contributed to their elimination from the competition.
Liwan emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating, “When refereeing errors worsen, football falls into the abyss. We will not accept having our results stolen in this manner.”
The club’s actions represent a significant escalation in the ongoing debate surrounding refereeing standards in Tunisian football. It remains to be seen whether their appeal to the President and FIFA will yield the desired results, or if the suspension of football activities will continue indefinitely. The situation highlights the growing frustration among Tunisian clubs regarding the perceived lack of impartiality in officiating and the potential impact on the integrity of the league.
Shbiba Qairawan’s next scheduled match is currently unconfirmed pending resolution of this dispute. The club has indicated they will not participate in any further matches until their demands for fair officiating are met. Fans and stakeholders will be closely watching for updates from the club, the Tunisian Football Federation, and the President’s office in the coming days.
This is a developing story, and Archysport will continue to provide updates as they become available.
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