Morocco’s Coach Regragui Rejects Refereeing Conspiracy Theories

Morocco’s national football coach, Walid Regragui, has firmly dismissed claims of refereeing bias in favor of his team during the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations. As the team prepared for their semi-final match against Nigeria in Rabat on January 13, 2024, Regragui addressed conspiracy theories circulating among some pundits and fans who believed that officiating has been lenient towards Morocco.

In a press conference, Regragui expressed his discontent with the notion that referees have been favoring the home team. “It’s always a shame to go down this path,” he said, emphasizing that such thoughts detract from the integrity of the tournament. He criticized the perception that matches are won through referee favoritism, stating, “Let’s not kid ourselves; it’s always been the case on the African continent to sow doubts and controversies.”

Regragui highlighted the complexities of refereeing in football, pointing out that decisions can vary significantly from one match to another. “A penalty can be given one way in one match and not in another. A handball is called in one match and not in another,” he noted. He underscored that these controversies are not unique to Africa, as they occur in European leagues as well.

As part of his argument, Regragui referred to two specific incidents from Morocco’s recent 2-0 victory over Cameroon in the quarter-finals. He mentioned that a defender had stepped on the ankle of Moroccan player Abde Ezzalzouli, suggesting that a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review would have warranted a penalty. Additionally, he pointed out another moment where a challenge from the opposing goalkeeper on Ismael Saibari should have resulted in a foul.

Despite his concerns, Regragui encouraged his players to focus solely on their performance on the pitch, urging them to ignore any controversy surrounding officiating. “The only way to win is on the pitch, by winning our matches,” he said. He has consistently refrained from criticizing referees after matches, stating, “We take responsibility, we move forward, and we work hard. That’s the goal.”

Looking ahead to the semi-final, Regragui expressed hope that the officiating would remain fair. “We hope the referee will be fair to both teams tomorrow, as he has been since the start of the competition,” he concluded.

As Morocco strives for success in this prestigious tournament, Regragui’s focus remains on his team’s abilities rather than external controversies.