The Algerian international Youssef Belaïli sparked widespread controversy within the halls of the Tunisian club Esperance after his angry reaction following his substitution during his team's match against Ittihad Monastir in the second round of the Tunisian league, which ended in another disappointing draw for the home team.

Despite Esperance fans' hopes of achieving victory to compensate for the setback in the first round against Mustaqbal Qabes, the team settled for just one point, wasting a total of four points within a week, which increased the supporters' fears regarding the readiness of the squad to compete for the league title that the club has won 34 times before.

Belaïli left the field in the 72nd minute, replaced by the young Haitham Dawa, and did not hide his anger at coach Maher Kanzari's decision, as he ignored the coach upon leaving, kicked the bench and a water bottle, and did not greet his substitute teammates or the coaching staff, which sparked dissatisfaction among a wide segment of the team's fans.

After the final whistle, social media turned into a platform for fierce criticism of the Algerian player, as fans deemed his behavior unworthy of the history and value of Esperance, demanding that he respect the coach's decisions and adhere to the spirit of the team.