In a shocking pre-match incident, Lotfi Amrouche, the coach of ES Sétif, was physically assaulted in the tunnel leading to the changing rooms at the Mohammed Bougherra Stadium. This occurred just minutes before the Algerian Professional League match against JS Chlef, creating a charged atmosphere in the stadium. Amrouche reported that the incident was initiated by Chlef player Jamal Belalam, who was not officially listed for the match, highlighting the chaos that unfolded off the field before the match started.

Amrouche described the incident as unfortunate, stating that he would not relinquish his right to hold those responsible accountable for the attack, which significantly affected him both physically and mentally before the game. Witnesses, including the match referee and the match supervisor, were present during the assault, indicating that the incident was not concealed and raised serious questions about safety and sportsmanship in Algerian football.

The attack has reportedly exacerbated long-standing tensions between Amrouche and certain individuals associated with JS Chlef, suggesting that this was not a spontaneous act but rather the culmination of prior personal conflicts. The situation further escalated into health issues for Amrouche, who suffered a severe respiratory distress episode, resulting in a post-ponement of the match's kickoff, demonstrating the implications of such violent encounters in sports.