Youssef Belaili released after being detained at Paris airport

The arrest of Algerian international Youssef Belaili on Wednesday evening, July 2, at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport, a suburb of the French capital, Paris, sparked a wave of questions and controversy on social media, before he was released later that day. Get the latest celebrity ads directly on the Special app, where we show you everything new from international stars.

A video documenting the moment of arrest ignites social media

A video clip widely circulated that evening showing the moment Belaili was arrested. In the clip, he appears to be engaged in a heated argument with airport security personnel, before being handcuffed and surrounded by two police officers, a scene that sparked angry reactions from his fans.

Reason for the stop: an argument on the plane

According to Agence France-Presse, Youssef Belaili's arrest followed a verbal altercation on an Air France flight as he returned from the United States after participating in the 2025 Club World Cup with his Tunisian club, Espérance Sportive de Tunis.

According to the sources, Belaili was temporarily arrested and placed in custody pending investigation, before being released later that evening. French prosecutors deemed the incident did not constitute a criminal offense.

Details of the incident: Objection to crew instructions Local newspapers reported that the problem began when Youssef Belaili refused to fasten his young son's seatbelt during the flight, despite repeated warnings from the crew. The behavior alarmed the crew, prompting them to request police intervention upon the plane's arrival in Paris.

Air France responds, accusing Belaili of inappropriate behavior

For its part, Air France issued a statement confirming that it had called the police due to "inappropriate behavior by a passenger toward the crew," and noting that some crew members had filed a formal complaint.

Belaili responds via Instagram: "I am Algerian and proud... you bastards"

Following his release, Youssef Belaili responded in his own way, posting a photo of the plane's crew on his official Instagram account, along with a controversial comment: "Proudly Algerian... you bastards," which some viewed as a message of defiance and vindication.

Youssef Belaili's father: French police insulted my son

In the family's first statement, the player's father told the Algerian newspaper Ennahar: "My son was subjected to clear injustice at Charles de Gaulle Airport," adding that "the French police insulted Youssef despite him being a well-known international player." Enjoy interesting and useful content with an exclusive podcast that provides you with everything you need to know in just a few minutes via the Special app.

About Youssef Belaili's football career

Youssef Belaili, 32, previously played for several French clubs, including Angers, Brest, and Ajaccio, before recently joining Tunisian club Espérance Sportive de Tunis. To date, the club has not issued an official statement commenting on the incident.