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Algerian international and Espérance Sportive de Tunis forward, Youcef Belaïli, was arrested on Wednesday morning at Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle Airport in Paris after reportedly clashing with cabin crew aboard an Air France flight from New York.
According to information confirmed by airport sources and reported by AFP, the 33-year-old was taken into police custody upon arrival in Paris. Belaïli was scheduled to catch a connecting flight to Algeria when authorities intervened.
Footage circulating on social media shows the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations winner handcuffed, barefoot, and visibly subdued, being escorted through the terminal by French police officers—images that have sparked a wave of reaction among fans and commentators alike.
The cause of the altercation aboard the transatlantic flight has not been officially disclosed, but reports suggest a dispute with Air France cabin crew escalated to the point of requiring police intervention upon landing.
Belaïli, known for his flair on the pitch and fiery personality off it, is no stranger to controversy. A key figure in Algeria’s victorious 2019 AFCON campaign, his club career has been punctuated by both moments of brilliance and disciplinary setbacks. He has previously featured in France for clubs including Angers, Brest, and Ajaccio before returning to Espérance de Tunis last season