A senior sports commentator has been accused of crossing a dangerous line after publishing remarks and imagery described by critics as inciting hostility and violence against Morocco.
Hafid Derradji, a well-known commentator with beIN Sports, is facing strong criticism following a social media post in which he referred to Moroccans as “enemies” and praised the use of firearms, prompting accusations that his comments amounted to a call to murder rather than political or sporting expression.
The controversy has reignited debate about the role and responsibility of high-profile media figures whose influence extends far beyond sport.
Critics argue that Derradji has increasingly used his platform to echo political messaging aligned with Algeria’s military establishment, repeatedly targeting Morocco in public interventions.
According to those raising concerns, the issue is not the expression of opinion itself, but the transformation of sporting notoriety into what they describe as a channel of political influence.
They say Derradji’s commentary has moved away from football and into a sustained campaign of hostility, with Morocco presented as a recurring adversary.
The most recent incident centres on a post shared online in which Derradji appears in front of an image of an Algerian soldier, posed with a rifle.
Accompanying the image was a text with a martial tone, praising the army and explicitly identifying Morocco as an “enemy country”. The post also included language interpreted as glorifying weapons and urging readiness to “take up the gun” against that enemy.
Observers say the symbolism and wording mark a sharp escalation in tone, shifting from political rhetoric to what they describe as explicit incitement.
They argue that such messaging, delivered by a public figure with international reach, carries serious implications.
The criticism has also drawn attention to what is seen as Derradji’s selective silence on internal Algerian controversies.
In 2022, videos attributed to Guermit Bounouira, the former private secretary of late army chief Ahmed Gaïd Salah, circulated widely and triggered intense debate within Algeria.
Among the statements attributed to Bounouira was the claim that “there are more drug traffickers than soldiers” within the army.
The remarks, which alleged corruption and trafficking, including accusations against current chief of staff Saïd Chengriha, generated widespread reaction but were not amplified by Derradji.
Critics argue this contrast highlights a pattern: vocal attacks directed outward, combined with restraint when allegations concern Algeria’s own military leadership.
The controversy has also raised questions for beIN Sports, the Qatari-owned broadcaster that employs Derradji. Commentators say a global sports network cannot ignore accusations that one of its prominent voices has used sporting visibility as a platform for hatred and violence.
They question whether the network’s leadership, including its president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, should intervene to reaffirm that a sports channel is not a space for calls to violence, but a forum for sport.
