Two Tunisian footballers reportedly refused to wear the team's FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 kit because it was inspired by Hannibal, the Carthaginian commander.
The posts included a picture of two football players wearing long, traditional shirts. The players are Naim Sliti, who plays for the Saudi Al-Ittifaq Club, and Assa Laidouni, who plays for the Ferencvárosi Torna Club. Users said they were refusing to wear the new uniform.
The claim was also reported by various media outlets and websites in Tunisia.
Misbar discovered that the claim was made by Tunisian journalist Mohamed Boughalleb.
In one of his YouTube podcast episodes posted on November 1, 2022, the journalist claimed that two Tunisian football players had refused to wear the new uniform, which had been officially unveiled in September.
The journalist did not mention the names of the two players. However, he stated that the players do not speak Arabic and were born and raised in other countries.
The Tunisian National Team's New Kit
Misbar investigated a photo shared with the claim and found it to be unrelated to the Tunisian team's new kit.
The photo predates the official announcement of the shirts.
The photo was posted online on September 21. Allegedly, it shows football players Naim Sliti and Assa Laidouni at the team's residence, a day before the Tunisia VS Comoros football match, in preparation for the World Cup.
The claim began circulating after KAPPA, a Tunisian Football Federation contracting company, announced the new Tunisian national team kit for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
The company stated that the shirts feature the primary color of the Tunisian flag, red.
The design was inspired by Hannibal's shield, according to KAPPA.
"A pattern illustrating Hannibal's armor decorates the jersey to send a clear message to the competition: Tunisia will do everything to go to the end of the competition," according to a translated version of the KAPPA website.
According to Britannica, Hannibal is a Carthaginian general and one of the great military leaders of antiquity. He commanded Carthaginian forces against Rome in the Second Punic War. He resisted Rome and its satellites until his death.
Did the Players Refuse the National Kit?
Media outlets in Tunisia also published images of Tunisian athletes sporting the new uniforms, including Naim Sliti, who wore the uniform on the day it was formally unveiled.
Meanwhile, Assa Laidouni did not mention that he refused to wear the new uniform.
The Tunisian national team is one of the four Arab teams participating in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
The team will play in Group D along with France, Denmark, and Australia.
Misbar’s Sources
