Botola Pro 1: Raja Casablanca and IR Tanger unite in protest against officiating

Raja Club Athletic has formally lodged a complaint with the National Technical Directorate of Arbitration following contentious refereeing decisions in its 13th round Botola Pro clash against IR Tanger, intensifying debate over officiating standards in the domestic championship.

In an official statement, Raja confirmed that it had submitted a letter on Monday, February 23, 2026, addressed to the President of the National Technical Directorate of Arbitration, regarding incidents that occurred during the match played on Sunday, February 22.

The club stressed that it remains committed to defending its rights through institutional and legal channels.

“Raja Club informs its fans and the public that, in its commitment to protecting its rights and defending its interests through the appropriate legal and institutional channels, it sent an official letter on Monday, February 23, 2026, to the President of the National Technical Directorate of Arbitration, regarding the refereeing incident that occurred in the 55th minute of the Raja Club vs. Ittihad Tanger match, which took place on Sunday, February 22, 2026,” Raja said in their statement.

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The Green Eagles further argued that they disagreed with the decision announced concerning an offside call, maintaining that the available technical evidence indicated no offside position.

They also insisted that a challenge inside the penalty area should have resulted in a spot kick in their favour, in accordance with the laws of the game.

Ittihad Tanger, for its part, also voiced strong dissatisfaction with the officiating during the same encounter. The Tangier-based side condemned what it described as unfair refereeing decisions, particularly the early red card shown to defender Bilal Al Wadghiri in the opening stages of the first half.

In its own statement, the club asserted that the dismissal lacked proper interpretation of the spirit of the law and an accurate assessment of the seriousness of the challenge.

Fares Al Boughaz stated: “This case was not isolated or fleeting, but rather falls within a series of refereeing errors that have harmed the team this season, which have directly affected the results of matches and the principle of equal opportunities between clubs. We also note with great surprise the way the refereeing chamber intervened in this match, under the supervision of referee Abdelrahim Al-Rakhiz, knowing that he has a history of controversial decisions in previous matches concerning our team, which raises more than one question mark about the criteria for appointment and evaluation.”

He added, “Ittihad Tanger, while defending its legitimate rights, refuses to be a party to repeated errors that undermine the credibility of the sporting competition, and demands that the relevant authorities open an urgent and transparent investigation into these refereeing cases, and publish the audio recordings of the VAR room in respect for the public’s right to know, and to uphold the principle of linking responsibility with accountability.”

The club concluded by affirming its intention to pursue all legal and procedural measures available to safeguard its interests, reiterating that Ittihad Tanger remains committed to protecting the integrity of competition and the image of Moroccan football against what it considers unjust decisions.