FIFPro: settlement agreed between Zahir Belounis (FRA/ALG) and El Jaish Sports Club (Qatar Stars)

"A financial settlement has been agreed in the long-running dispute between Zahir Belounis and Qatar Stars League team El Jaish Sports Club (club founded in 2007 and merged with Al-Duhail SC in 2017)," announced FIFPro on 05/01/2018.

"Belounis (Franco-Algerian striker born on 15/02/1980) was trapped in Qatar when, under the so-called kafala system, the club refused to grant him an exit visa to leave the country until he agreed to drop legal action over unpaid wages," said the international union of professional footballers. The kafala system, denounced by human rights organisations, forbids a foreigner to leave the country without the agreement of his employer or kafil (sponsor).

"I shouted so loud for months to be heard. I have been harmed, the people who did it will pay a lot for it. The case is in court. I was blackmailed, but I did not give in," said the player when he returned to France on 28/11/2013.

Towards a removal of the kafala system

• "FIFPro International Union of Professional Footballers …