Tunisia International Under Investigation for Leading Player-protests

Tunisia international Wissem Ben Yahia, is facing an investigation over allegations of inciting teammates into staging a protest over unpaid match wages; Ducor Sports understands.

The 32-year-old Cartage Eagles’ veteran star has been identified as one of the key figures in last month’s dressing room unrest at a time his Tunisian premier league team, Club Africain, was in a turmoil.

The dust is yet to settle for the club as it still grapples with issues of financial constraints after under-fire former club chairman Slim Riahi, decided to step down.

The 45-year-old opposition leader opted to resign after being accused of money laundering, shady business deals, and in a separate incident, for embezzling funds and plunging Club Africain into serious debt.

Hours after news broke that Riahi will be investigated as part of the Tunisian government’s crackdown on corruption, Club African players staged a sit-down strike demanding payment of outstanding wages.

Yahia has now emerged as one those behind June’s protest and has been withdrawn from the club’s pre-season tour in Tabarka, North-west of the North African country.

The decision to withdraw the midfielder comes from the club’s interim committee headed by Daily Lamouchi, thought to be a close confidant of erstwhile chairman, Riahi.

Club Africain did not bother to explain circumstances leading to Yahia’s exclusion from the rest of the team but issued a statement to reveal that the playmaker has been recalled to the club’s headquarters to review his contract. His current deal ends in June next year.

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