Youcef Belaïli Released After In-Flight Dispute
The 33-year-old winger was taken into custody at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport after reportedly refusing to fasten his young son's seatbelt during the flight. The disagreement escalated, prompting staff to call for police intervention upon landing.
Belaïli was questioned at a nearby police station and released in the afternoon. French authorities deemed the case a minor infraction and did not proceed with formal charges.
Following his release, Belaïli posted a photo of the flight crew on Instagram, writing: 'Algerian and proud, you bastards.'
His father, Hafid Belaïli, defended him in an interview with the Algerian media outlet Ennahar, saying that his son was humiliated by the French police.
Videos circulating on social media show the player being handcuffed and escorted to the police station.
The Algerian winger, who previously played for Angers, Brest, and Ajaccio in Ligue 1, recently featured for Espérance Sportive de Tunis in the Club World Cup in the United States. EST were eliminated after defeats to Flamengo and Chelsea, with Belaïli scoring the team's only goal of the tournament.
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