It is disgusting to read of the threats made against Scorpions star Ousman Jallow during the Algeria game held at the Independence Stadium in Bakau last weekend. After The Gambia’s memorable 1-0 victory, a number of Algerian players claiming to be terrorists threatened to attack the hotel Gambian footballers and match officials would be lodging in when they play the return leg this weekend. This kind of behaviour has no place in sport and FIFA should immediately impose harsh sanctions not only on the players who made the threats but on the Algerian Football Association.

The Gambia Football Association has written a letter of notification to the world football governing body, FIFA, following the threats made to the Scorpions by some Algerian players during the qualifier for the World and African Cup of Nations.

The letter has been signed by the Secretary General of the Gambia Football Association, Jammeh EK Bojang, and copied to CAF General Secretary.

The GFA must be commended for their prompt response to this abusive behaviour against a Scorpions player. The players are in the protection of the GFA and it is heartening to see the GFA living up to their responsibilities in this regard.

It will now be very interesting to see how FIFA and the CAF react to this shameful incident. Before any action is taken by FIFA the Algerian Football Association should take disciplinary action of their own to show that they have no tolerance for this kind of behaviour. The players, identified as wearing numbers 17 and 4, must be immediately suspended and perhaps even worse. If one were to claim to be a terrorist and promise to blow up hotels in the street or in an airport you would very quickly find yourself in police custody. Why then should this wretched behaviour be tolerated on a football field?

Our boys are in Algeria at the moment so let us hope that security is very tight indeed. Of course it is not only the players who may be at risk but all the coaching staff and trainers as well. These people are in Algeria to play football to bring joy and exhilaration to the fans of both nations, not to be in fear of their lives. Let us hope that swift action is taken on this matter and that our boys respond in the best way possible by securing valuable away goals and earning a vital three points so that we can go to the World and African Cup of Nations.