Lakhdar Belloumi was finally cleared by Interpol in April 2009 and an international warrant for his arrest rescinded.
Belloumi had been charged 20 years ago for throwing a bottle at an Egyptian doctor causing serious damage to his eye. The incident took place after a 1990 World Cup match between Algeria and Egypt ended in a brawl between the Algerian players and Egyptian supporters. Interpol charged him with the crime despite Belloumi’s protestations of innocence. It was later revealed that the goalkeeper Kamel Kadri was responsible for the incident.
By that time the Mascara born player was considered Algeria’s most accomplished player. Clever and resourceful, Belloumi was the maestro in the middle orchestrating Algeria’s finest hour in the 1982 World Cup when they pulled off their Game Of Their Lives beating West Germany, 2-1.
The Germans bristling with talent in the person of Karl Heinz Rummenigge, Felix Magath, Pierre Littbarski, Paul Brietner, and Horst Hrubesch were increasingly unsettled by the faster paced Algerians, egged on by raucous fans. Playing attractive and attacking football, Belloumi and Rabah Madjer proved a handful for the German defense on the counterattack.
Majder put Les Fennecs ahead in the 54′ minute after Belloumi making a darting run was denied by Magath. Off the rebound the lurking Madjer made no mistake. The Germans increasingly physical kept the ball away from the Algerians and were rewarded with Rummenigge’s goal in the 67th minute. It set up the glorious finale a minute later as a Belloumi taking advantage of a German lull scored to put Algeria ahead. They then held on for the next 25 minutes to score a historic win. The Miracle at Gijon.
Five days later, at Oviedo the Algerians continued their attractive brand of football against the Austrians, with Belloumi shining once more and ably backed up by Djamel Zidane giving the defense a torrid time. Zidane came close to scoring twice with Friedl Koncilia in goal managing to save the Austrians. Alas, their defense was not up to the task and crumbled in the second half unable to deny Walter Schachner and later, Hans Krankl.
The Algerians met the Chileans in their final encounter with Belloumi on the bench but they did not need their inspirational captain as they went ahead with three first half goals through Salah Assad’s brace and Tedj Bensaoula’s strike. Their defense could not match their thriving attack and let the Chileans back into the match in the second half. The match headed to a tight finish. In the end, Bensaoula’s goal proved pivotal.
The Fennecs were now on the doorstep of progressing to the group of sixteen, with two wins, the first African nation to come close to such an achievement. They awaited the result of the Germany vs Austria match the next day. Unfortunately, both nations conspired to produce the Shame at Gijon, to the eternal disgust of fans of the beautiful game.
The Germans knew a win by a margin of a goal or two would qualify both teams, while a larger margin would give the Algerians a better goal differential and eliminate the Austrians. Meanwhile a draw or a loss to the Austrians would eliminate the Germans. In the 10′ minute Horst Hrubesch headed in the ball to send Germany ahead. The deed done, for the next 80′ minutes both teams hunkered down to play insipid and soulless football as they stroked the ball back and forth incessantly. As the match wore on, shocked and enraged fans booed them as even German and Austrian supporters reacted negatively to their teams.
Algeria became the victim of a cynical display of anti-football. A fresh and invigorating Les Fennecs led by the tireless and mercurial Lakhdar Belloumi was one of the highlights of the 1982 World Cup. His memory is still enshrined in their miracle at Gijon.