Morocco’s head coach, Walid Regragui, emphatically refuted the circulating rumor on social media that accused him of making racist remarks towards Chancel Mbemba during a post-match altercation following the Morocco-Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) encounter in the ongoing AFCON 2023.
Addressing the media, Regragui expressed his dismay over the false allegations and vehemently denied making any racist comments towards Mbemba.
He spoke out against the damaging impact of such accusations on his personal and professional reputation, revealing that he had received racist and threatening messages in the aftermath of the controversy.
Regragui clarified the events, stating, “To say that I made racist comments is shameful.
I will defend my image to the end, I can’t let this go. I asked to be heard by CAF to explain myself fully. I never insulted the player, it was never in my upbringing.”
The Moroccan coach went on to share his perspective on the incident, recounting the customary post-match routine of exchanging greetings with referees, coaches, and players.
He acknowledged that there might have been tension and conceded that he should have let it go when Mbemba did not respond to his gesture.
Despite this, Regragui asserted that his actions were in line with his upbringing and that he never intended to insult the player.
Expressing concern about the societal implications of the incident, Regragui commented, “This story hurt me and it affected my family.
In his interview, Mbemba never spoke of racism, that’s where society is sick.”
In an effort to diffuse tensions and promote understanding, Regragui condemned the messages received by Mbemba and himself.
He urged for a measured response, emphasizing the need to address such situations calmly and responsibly.
The coach’s strong denial aligns with efforts to maintain a focus on sportsmanship and fair play in the midst of the African Cup of Nations, while also shedding light on the challenges of dealing with false accusations in the age of social media.
