USM Alger won by a single goal Players from Algerian football club MC Alger are awaiting sanctions from the Algerian Football Federation after they refused to accept runner-up medals from Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal following their 1-0 defeat to arch-rivals USM Alger in the 2013 Algeria Cup final.
Sellal, drafted in as a late replacement due to Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's stoke last week was shunned by Mouloudia players after the full time whistle.
Algerian Olympic Committee chief Mustapha Berraf has described the players' actions as "unsporting behaviour" which has caused "embarrassment to the political leadership in the country."
"I would like to apologise to the authorities for this unsporting behaviour, which has brought shame on Algerian football. I will make sure strong sanctions are taken against those who made the decision [to refuse acceptance of medals]."
Algerian Minister of Youth and Sports, Mohamed Tohami, and President of the Algerian Football Federation Mohamed Raouraoua failed to convince MC Alger officials into reversing their decision.
USM Alger won its eighth Algeria Cup, courtesy of an 18th minute strike from Mokhtar Benmoussa at the 5 July 1962 Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Mouloudia players' boycott of the awards ceremony was the first such incident since the inaugural Algerian Cup final in 1963.