Algeria player slaps female reporter - 世足

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PRETORIA, South Africa – Algeria soccer player Rafik Saifi slapped a female
journalist across the face as the aftermath of the United States’ dramatic
World Cup victory turned ugly at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Wednesday night.

While walking through the interview zone, Saifi spotted writer Asma Halimi,
who works for Algerian newspaper Competition, and struck her with his open
hand in front of dozens of witnesses. Halimi responded by striking the player
in the mouth.

Saifi then threw a sports drink bottle at a wall in the interview area, as
Halimi was ushered away by security staff.

Saifi came on as substitute for the last five minutes of the USA’s 1-0
victory.

“I said nothing to him and he reached over and hit me,” Halimi said to
Yahoo! Sports. “So I hit him back. I said nothing to him first.”

It is understood that Saifi and Halimi had previously had a difference of
opinion over an article she wrote for her newspaper.

“She was standing there and the guy came here and he hit her,” said
Francisco Aguilar Chang, a reporter from Guatemala who witnessed the
incident. “Then she hit him back and her nail caught his lip.”

Saifi and Algerian football association officials refused to comment when
quizzed by Yahoo! Sports.

The Algerian team has come under heavy criticism in its homeland after a
disappointing World Cup in which it finished at the bottom of Group C and was
knocked out of the tournament.

When asked if she would launch an official complaint with governing body FIFA
and the Algerian F.A., Halimi replied: “Of course.”

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