ALGERIA’S coach grabbed Said Benrahma by the shirt and squared up to him in shocking scenes during Monday’s nights clash with Egypt.
Djamel Belmadi substituted the West Ham star off but was clearly unhappy with the forward’s attitude.
And the gaffer, 47, was not afraid to make his feelings known publicly on the touchline.
Video footage shows Benrahma, 28, trudging to the sideline to be replaced by Houssem Aouar.
But as he tries to walk straight past his coach, Belmadi tugs at the front of his jersey and pulls him round to go face-to-face with the 23-cap international.
The pair exchange a few words before Belmadi lets an aggrieved Benrahma go.
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Fans were split at the behaviour – with some supporting Benrahma and others thinking the manager was in the right.
One said: “The guy has an ego that is way bigger than his talent.”
Another wrote: “The coach gave him a small lecture to remind him who’s the boss.”
But a third added: “That’s unprofessional.”
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However, Belmadi played down the incident and told the press: “What happened with Benrahma are things that happen, locker room things.
“He came off, he wasn’t happy, I wasn’t happy, that’s all.”
This was the second time in a week Benrahma has caused a stir within the Algeria camp.
On Thursday, the £26million man – who has no goals and one assist in ten games for West Ham this season – angered Islam Slimani when he tried to take a late penalty in the 5-1 thumping win over Cape Verde.
The ex-Leicester striker, who scored from the spot, raged: “The players designated to take the penalties are Slimani and Riyad Mahrez.
“If Mahrez is not on the field, automatically it is up to me to shoot. There is no debate. I ask for respect.
“People criticise me just because I was born in Algeria, at 35 I play in Brazil and not in Qatar.”
It looked as though Monday’s clash with Egypt would be a hugely frustrating night for Algeria.
Mohamed Hany was sent off for the Pharaohs on 26 minutes but Hamdi Fathi put the hosts in front just after the hour mark.
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But in the third minute of injury time, Algeria’s record goalscorer Slimani equalised to salvage a draw.
Both sides discovered their draw for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations – with the two countries in pot one and expected to top their respective groups.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
